The game: Pedro Alvarez's first professional home run -- albeit part of the spring collection -- was a pinch-hit, three-run, two-out, off-the-center-field-screen piece of theater that ignited a four-run ninth and earned the Pirates a 7-7 tie in 11 innings at the Tampa Bay Rays' Charlotte Sports Park. Tom Gorzelanny allowed two earned runs on five hits in his three innings and Jeff Karstens yielded two hits in his three. Jose Tabata and Andrew McCutchen went a combined 4 for 10.

Injury update:Outfielder Brandon Moss and second baseman Shelby Ford pronounced themselves better and returned to work. Moss, with a bruised and mildly sprained right thumb, spent time in the batting cages. Ford (wrist), a reserve second baseman, took grounders, threw and likewise worked in the McKechnie Field batting cage.

Other news: General manager Neal Huntington left out Gorzelanny and Karstens when he spoke pregame about Ian Snell and Zach Duke "cementing their inside tracks" to join Paul Maholm in the starting rotation. He also described Ross Ohlendorf and Virgil Vasquez as "throwing the ball well at times. But I can't say anybody has really stepped out and put a stranglehold on one of those final two jobs."

Tonight: Paul Maholm is scheduled to start vs. the Tampa Bay Rays' Andy Sonnanstine in the first McKechnie Field night game this spring. Denny Bautista, Chris Bootcheck, Craig Hansen and Donnie Veal are slated to appear in relief. The game will be televised on FSN Pittsburgh.

Camp roster: 53, with 26 pitchers, 5 catchers, 13 infielders and 9 outfielders.

Competition: Listening to Huntington, Jeff Salazar sounds headed to Class AAA Indianapolis for the time being -- he could well return -- while Craig Monroe and Steve Pearce vie for a right-handed bat and reserve-outfield role.

Fun under the lights:Meteorologist Stephanie Abrams is expected to broadcast live remotes from the game tonight as part of The Weather Channel's "Evening Edition" between 7-10 p.m., asking Pirates players and staff about adjusting from the warm Florida spring training to the April chill of the regular season in the Northeast and Midwest.

Inside pitch: Reliever Sean Burnett (2-1) gave up four runs on five hits and a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth, which means he has permitted eight earned runs in his past three innings. As a result, his ERA has swelled to 10.13. ... Brian Bixler went 2 for 5 to give him a .379 spring average. ... Andy LaRoche, who homered for his second time this spring, has hit safely in all 11 games and recorded eight hits in his past 14 at-bats, not counting five walks and a hit by pitch. He's batting .520.

Meet me in St. Louis: 22 days until the opener.