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Monday, March 26, 2001

By Robert Dvorchak, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The Pirates reduced their roster to 35 players, reassigning left-handed pitcher Brian O'Connor to Class AAA Nashville and giving infielders Leo Gomez and Reggie Jefferson their outright release.

After a 6-6 extra-inning tie with the Phillies yesterday, the Pirates also optioned catcher Humberto Cota, who will likely be assigned to Class AAA Nashville, and decided to keep left-handed pitcher Dave Williams in minor-league camp. Williams was starter yesterday, giving up two runs on five hits in 32/3 innings. He struck out three and walked three.

"I learned a lot. I came a long way," said Williams, who led the minor leagues with 201 strikeouts while pitching for Hickory and Lynchburg. "All I wanted out of this camp, my first spring training, was to see what I could do against major-league hitters. I felt like I competed. I'm just grateful I got the chance."

Williams, who grew up a Phillies fan in southern Delaware, made his first start of the spring against Philadelphia. He was optioned by the Pirates March 12 but was reconsidered as a prospect when injuries plagued the team's three top starters.

O'Connor, 22, who started one game for the Pirates last year, was 0-1 with a 4.70 ERA in five Grapefruit League appearances. Gomez and Jefferson, both of whom played in Japan last year, hit well in the spring but got caught in a numbers game. Gomez, 35, a one-time starting third baseman with Baltimore, hit .370 and led the Pirates with 19 spring games played. Jefferson, a career .300 hitter in nine major-league seasons, was batting .387.

"We wish them the best. They were both very professional. They knew how to play the game. It's just unfortunate they weren't a fit for us," Manager Lloyd McClendon said.

Game stopped

The game against the Phillies, which left the Pirates with an 11-12-1 mark, was typical of a Grapefruit League game.

The Pirates had taken a 6-4 lead in the top of the 10th inning on Enrique Wilson's two-run home run. He also had a solo home run in the second, just after John Vander Wal ripped a three-run shot. It was Vander Wal's fourth home run of the spring, tying him for the team lead with Kevin Young and Aramis Ramirez.

The game got out of control, literally, in the bottom of the 10th. Erik Plantenberg, 32, on loan from minor-league camp, walked five batters and gave up two runs without giving up a hit or getting an out. After the Phillies tied it, the game was called because Plantenberg had reached his pitch limit of 26 and the Pirates had no other pitchers available. Of the 26 pitches, only six were strikes and no Philadelphia batter swung at a pitch.

John Wehner, bidding to make the club as a utility player, caught the ninth and played an inning at first. He also singled in his only at-bat.

Anderson starts

Projected No. 3 starter Jimmy Anderson makes his fourth start and fifth appearance of the spring today against the Phillies in Bradenton. Anderson is 1-1 with a 5.73 ERA for the Pirates, who have the highest earned run average among National League clubs in the spring. Bruce Chen starts for the Phillies, playing their third game against the Pirates in four days.