Phillies-Pirates: Ryan Howard Homers, but Philadelphia Falls to Pittsburgh

PIRATES 6, PHILLIES 5
at Clearwater, Fla.
Friday, March 13

Pirates on the mound

Left-hander Zach Duke threw the ball well in 3.2 innings. He allowed just one hit and one walk and struck out two. He got into a bases-loaded jam in the fourth after a leadoff single to Eric Bruntlett, a two-out walk to Ryan Howard, and an error from third baseman Andy LaRoche to load the bases, but left-hander David Davidson took over and got out of the inning without a run scoring. Daniel McCutchen allowed five runs in 1.1 innings.

Phillies on the mound

Right-hander Joe Blanton allowed five hits and two runs in 4.2 innings. He struck out two. Right-hander Bobby Mosebach, a Rule Five draft pick who is trying to earn a job in the bullpen, took over with two outs in the fifth. He allowed two hits, one run, and one walk in 1.1 innings. He has a 3.86 ERA this spring. Right-hander Ryan Madson threw a scoreless seventh.

Pirates at the plate

Right fielder Steve Pearce went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Center fielder Andrew McCutchen singled and scored a run, first baseman Garrett Jones doubled and scored a run, and second baseman Brian Bixler went 2-for-3, including a triple. Left fielder Jeff Salazar ripped a go-ahead three-run shot in the ninth.

Phillies at the plate

Philadelphia did not hit a ball in the air until Jason Donald tripled to left-center field to lead off the sixth. Donald scored on Raul Ibanez's double into the right field corner. Howard followed Ibanez with a two-run homer to right field to make it 3-3. Howard went 1-for-2 and is hitting .286 with five homers and 13 RBI this spring.

Miguel Cairo and Carlos Ruiz also knocked in runs in the fifth as the Phils took a 5-3 lead. Jayson Werth went 1-for-3.

Grapefruit League records

Pirates 9-5-1; Phillies 5-8

Up next

The Pirates return to McKechnie Field in Bradenton, Fla., on Saturday for a 1:05 p.m. ET contest against the Yankees. Ross Ohlendorf will get the start for the Bucs, giving the right-hander his first opportunity to face his former team. Ohlendorf was one of four players New York sent to Pittsburgh in a trade deadline deal last July.

Denny Bautista, Chris Bootcheck, Sean Burnett, Jesse Chavez, Craig Hansen, and Donnie Veal are also scheduled to make an appearance.

The Phillies travel to Kissimmee, Fla., on Friday at 1:05 p.m. to play the Astros for the first time this spring. Carlos Carrasco, who is fighting for the fifth spot in Philadelphia's rotation, gets the start. Andrew Carpenter and Scott Eyre are also scheduled to pitch.