Pro Sports Blogging

The long anticipated wait of baseball season has come to an end.  Saturday, March 3, marked the first full day of spring training games, including the opener for the Pittsburgh Pirates.  The Pirates came into this year’s camp with a brand  new attitude and some new faces looking to make an impact.  The Buccos have carried the title for most consecutive seasons without a winning record, 19, but the baseball world got a glimpse of what the future holds for this organization  last year.

Some might say the path  to the World Series begins on Opening Day, but the real journey begins down in Bradenton for the Pirates.  The Pirates journey began this afternoon in Dunedin, where they didn’t have as much success as the Blue Jays.

James McDonald made the start for the Buccos, going two innings and allowing two runs on two hits.  McDonald’s only blemish was a two-run double by up and coming third basemen Brett Lawrie.

McDonald was not the only Bucco trying to shake off the cobwebs.  The offense struggled against a plethora of Blue Jays pitchers and was not able to record their first hit of the game until the fifth inning when one of their top outfield prospects, Gorkys Hernandez, laced a single to right field.  After stealing second base, Hernandez then came around to score on a bloop single by Michael Mckenry, giving the Pirates their one and only run of the game.

For the most part, every pitcher who took the mound did a fairly good job in their first appearance except for Tony Watson.  Watson was shelled for three runs on four hits in one innings work.  Once again, Lawrie provided the damage with his second two-run double of the game, giving him four RBI’s in the game.

Jose Tabata and Neil Walker were the only two starters from a year ago to participate in the game.  I expect to see more regulars make their 2012
debut tomorrow afternoon when they entertain the Blue Jays at McKechnie Field.  Newly acquired pitcher Erik Bedard will get the start.

Photo published by Daylife.com

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Written by Drew Karpen
I am a graduate from Clarion University. I am currently the beat reporter for WVU football at ovathletics.com. I work part time as a stringer at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and as a producer at WJPA radio station. I also have my weekly column on ovathletics.com. I am from Pittsburgh and my favorite team is the Pirates.