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That was about the only relevant development in this game. Because of a night game Wednesday, the Pirates left most of their regulars in Bradenton. Seven minor-leaguers made the trip to fill out the roster.
Ryan Howard led off with a home run in the second inning, driving a 3-1 pitch into the left-center field seats.
Snell struck out Howard in the sixth inning.
"I showed him who the man was," Snell said, laughing.
Snell allowed back-to-back home runs to Geoff Jenkins and Pedro Feliz in the fifth inning.
"Three solo home runs are usually not going to really kill you," manager John Russell said.
Snell threw 80 pitches. In his next start Tuesday, he's scheduled to throw 90.
"Once you get to that point, you're pretty much ready," Russell said.
Snell will pitch against Atlanta on opening day March 31 on five days' rest rather than the customary four.
Snell said he won't be nervous, but ...
"Am I going to be excited? Oh, yeah, very," he said.
Snell lifetime against Atlanta is 1-2 with a 4.73 earned run average in five appearances. That includes three appearances at Turner Field, where he's yielded eight earned runs in 122/3 innings.
Nyjer Morgan, probably falling behind Nate McLouth in the competition for the regular center field job, went 0 for 2 and was twice nicked by pitches. Morgan is 10 for 46 this spring.
Jaret Wright, who pitched an inning Wednesday night, worked another yesterday. He could be in competition with fellow right-hander Evan Meek for a spot in the bullpen.
Act of charity: Bob Nutting, the Pirates chairman of the board, and left-hander Tom Gorzelanny today will present a check for $30,000 from Pirates Charities to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County (Bradenton) toward the purchase of a bus to provide transportation for children to activities.
Minor matters: Brad Lincoln, the Pirates' first-round draft pick in 2006, yesterday pitched in a game for the first time since having reconstructive surgery to repair ligament damage in his right elbow April 7, 2007.
Lincoln, a right-hander, pitched an inning against Boston minor-leaguers in Fort Myers, throwing all fastballs.
"He showed good arm strength and solid command," said Kyle Stark, the Pirates' player development director.
Battle lines: Matt Morris, who could make his first start of the season in the Pirates' fourth game against Florida, is in a battle to discover the command of his fastball.
The veteran right-hander has had a messy spring statistically. In 13 innings, he has allowed 29 hits and 13 earned runs.
"He's worked awfully hard between starts on getting command of his fastball," Russell said. "We saw signs of it a little bit [Wednesday] night. He needs to hit his spots [with his fastball] to set up his breaking ball."
If there was a positive from Morris' 13-hit, four-inning stint against the Yankees Wednesday night, it was that his fastball reached 88 mph -- the hardest he has thrown this spring.
"I think that's a step," pitching coach Jeff Andrews said. "We need to find a comfortable mechanical slot where he feels like he can let it rip and keep the ball down without guiding the ball.
"Sometimes when it's doing something that requires a skill, it's repetition. I'm convinced once he finds [that slot], it won't go away. The thing is, can we find it?"
Today: The Pirates play Cincinnati in Bradenton. Tom Gorzelanny is scheduled to start against Aaron Harang.
Camp roster: The Pirates have 39 players in camp, including 20 pitchers, 4 catchers, 9 infielders and 6 outfielders.
Countdown to Atlanta: 10
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