Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Todd Ritchie ends bid to restart his career. Click photo for larger image. 2005 Spring Training: Stats Geek: Pirates can exorcise bullpen with Mesa Thrill for Hill

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Pirates' search for a fifth starter cleared some yesterday because of the retirement of Todd Ritchie and maybe also because of three innings pitched by left-hander Dave Williams.

But certainly not the first inning pitched by Williams.

He allowed four hits and four runs in the first inning of the Pirates' 5-2 loss to the New York Yankees last night at Legends Field.

In his final three innings, Williams allowed just a hit.

"I made some bad, bad pitches on 0-2 in the first inning," said Williams, as close to a front-runner for the fifth job as there is. "After they crush them, you know you don't need to go there.

"After that inning, I started working off-speed and then using my fastball when I got ahead. I was able to put up zeros but a little too late."

"His stuff was good, but he didn't pitch very intelligently early on," manager Lloyd McClendon said. "He wasn't all that bad after he settled down and got his composure. I've liked the way he's thrown this spring."

Ritchie, 33, who pitched only eight innings in the major leagues last season after having rotator cuff surgery June 17, 2003, had a particularly uneven start Saturday against Cincinnati.

In 2 2/3 innings, he allowed five hits, three walks and three runs and threw two wild pitches.

That might have been the final straw for the right-hander.

"That wasn't Todd Ritchie," pitching coach Spin Williams said. "He's a guy who's going to come right at you. He's not going to beat himself."

Williams talked with Ritchie Sunday.

"He just didn't feel like he could compete the way he wanted to at this time," Williams said. "His shoulder wasn't responding the way he'd have liked.

"I hate to see him go, but he has to do what's best for him. He was a class citizen in camp. You really root for a guy like that."

"I respect his decision," McClendon said. "It was a tough decision, an emotional decision. He felt from a physical standpoint he couldn't continue."

Ritchie's retirement follows by a week the retirement of right-hander Todd Van Poppel. Both were No. 1 draft picks as high school players in Texas in 1990.

Ritchie had by far his best major-league season with the Pirates in 1999. He was 15-9 with a 3.49 earned run average for a team that was 78-83.

"When he was with us [back then], he competed well," McClendon said. "He was a double-digit winner for a team that was not very good."

Right-hander Albie Lopez, also in the mix for the fifth starter's job, had a cramp in his left calf after pitching two innings Saturday.

He was scheduled to pitch three innings tomorrow, but Williams said that's "highly unlikely" and that there's no set date for Lopez's next pitching turn.

Ryan Vogelsong, another candidate for the job, is scheduled to start against the Yankees in Bradenton tomorrow. He probably needs a good outing to stay firmly in the mix. In 5 2/3 innings, he has yielded six hits, three walks and four earned runs.

Left-handed rookie Zach Duke is hanging around the fringe of the battle. He pitched an effective three innings Sunday against Philadelphia.

"I can see why our minor-league system likes this guy," McClendon said. "His makeup is off the charts."

NOTES -- CF Tike Redman didn't play last night because of stiffness in his elbow, which was hurt diving back into a base Sunday. With an off day today, Redman will have two days off and should be OK tomorrow. ... LF Jason Bay, whose left wrist was bruised a week ago, said all the swelling has gone down in his wrist. He's throwing and running but hasn't swung a bat yet. "We're getting there," Bay said. "It feels 100 times better than it did three or four days ago." ... SS Jack Wilson, making his second spring start, played five innings and went 1 for 3. ... The Pirates announced yesterday season ticket sales are trending 18 percent ahead of last year and group ticket sales up 31 percent over a year ago. The Pirates have sold 8,431 full-season equivalents. This time last year, they had sold 7,144. Group sales are ahead, 194,337-148,979.

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