The Pirates were clubbed by the Orioles, 14-5, yesterday in spring training baseball. The Orioles broke open the game with seven runs in the fifth inning.
Anthony Alford finally got his first hit of the preseason for the Pirates, a home run. He’d been 0-for-12 with nine strikeouts before connecting for the homer. Canaan Smith-Njigba followed Alford’s homer with one of his own. Yoshi Tsutsugo had three hits for the Pirates.
The team optioned top right-handed pitching prospect Roansy Contreras and infielder Rodolpho Castro to Indianapolis and also sent four others to their minor league camp. Contreras was a sensation for the Altoona Curve last season before missing significant time with a strained forearm. When he returned, he was sent to Indianapolis and got a spot start for the Pirates in September. In two appearances this preseason, he gave up three runs on two hits, including a pair of home runs surrendered to the Phillies last Thursday.
Castro was also an Altoona star and spent extended time with the Pirates. He set an all-time Major League record when he became the first player ever to have his first five MLB hits go over the fence for home runs. He scorched Double-A pitchers, hitting .295 with 12 home runs, and hit three homers, four doubles, and drove in eight in just eight games with Indianapolis. He was 3-for-13 this spring.
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