Gregory Polanco homers and drops ball as Pirates win Grapefruit League opener

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It was an eight-inning game that called the first half-in after only two strikeouts were recorded. And yet, perhaps the most stood out aspect of the Grapefruit League opening Sunday for the Pittsburgh Pirates was that there were 1,750 spectators on hand to see it.

It had been 353 days since the Pirates had played all game – significant or not – in front of paying fans.

“It was great to hear some noise, fans screaming at the refs,” said new Pirates fielder Todd Frazier of the atmosphere at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla. “It was kind of the norm, and hopefully we are.”

Perhaps the next closest thing to a return to normalcy in a 6-5 win over the Baltimore Orioles was Gregory Polanco’s mercurial performance. The highest paid – and most enigmatic – Pirates’ player made his spring debut that reflects much of his eight years with the club.

Polanco hit a two-run homerun in the opposite field early in the third inning. In the lower half of the frame, he released a ball that led to Baltimore’s first inning.

Polanco blamed the Florida Gulf Coast breeze for its downfall – “It just hit me in the palm,” he said. Of greater importance to the Pirates was his much needed bat, even after a wrist injury suffered while playing winter ball.

“Where I am right now and healthy, that says a lot,” Polanco said. “Personally, I’m like, ‘Okay, that’s good. It’s a good start to spring training, ”obviously. So (on the home run) I was just, ‘OK, that’s a good swing.’ “

The last man standing of the Pirates’ last playoff team in 2015, Polanco’s tenure has been limited by injury to 92 games since September 2018. But his popularity as a teammate was demonstrated by a very warm welcome he received in the canoe. after rounding off the bases.

“They were so happy,” Polanco said. “They were so loud too. They were loud. I have their support for sure, and it’s amazing to see that.

Frazier, one of the few players in the camp older than Polanco, also made it home for the Pirates in his debut with the team after being signed nine days previously. Third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes had the Pirates’ only other extra shot, a well-hitting brace down center that led Kevin Newman.

While manager Derek Shelton insisted on not reading too much into the starting lineup, the Pirates who played on Sunday looked a lot like the squad set to face the Chicago Cubs on April 1 in Game 1 of the regular season.

Newman hit the lead and played the shortstop, hitting base in all three home plate appearances. Hayes hit second, left fielder Bryan Reynolds third with Colin Moran in the cleanup followed by right fielder Polanco and Frazier as the designated hitter.

With Adam Frazier (groin) out, Erik Gonzalez started at second base but switched positions with Newman after three innings to give Shelton a glimpse of two of the three candidates (with Cole Tucker) to be the shortstop of the opening day.

The only backups planned to start the Grapefruit League opener were recent signing Tony Wolters on receiver and Jared Oliva at center field.

Chad Kuhl, the Pirates’ longest-serving pitcher, started and hit the side in succession after allowing a pair of singles to open his only sleeve. Kuhl said he used his slider as a back ground, but the two-seamed fastball was his area of ​​focus on the exit.

“I had a really good pre-game pen,” Kuhl said. “Was energized by the fans here. Overall, it’s pretty good. “

Chris Adamski is a staff writer for Tribune-Review. You can contact Chris by email at [email protected] or via Twitter .

Categories:
Pirates / MLB | Sports



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