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Sunday, March 03, 2002

By Robert Dvorchak, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- In a make or break spring, Chad Hermansen has to take advantage of every opportunity. As a last-minute starter yesterday, Hermansen led off the game with a solo home run to launch a 25-hit Pirates attack and an 18-7 victory against the Philadelphia Phillies yesterday.

Needing a spring good enough to make the club or be put on waivers, Hermansen said he is using the same approach he used in the Arizona Fall League -- staying on the ball longer and using the whole field to hit rather than trying to pull everything. And he's trying to block out the fact this is his last shot with the Pirates.

"That's out of my hands. Obviously, I have to produce," said Hermansen, who also had a triple and a single. "There's no excuses. I just have to go out and get it done. I can't put any extra pressure on myself.

"For some reason, I'm more relaxed than I have been in any other spring. I'm seeing the ball a little better. I was most happy with the triple down the right-field line. It means I'm using the whole field."

With winds of 26 miles per hour and gusts reaching 34, there were a number of wind-blown base hits, and it was not a good day for pitchers or fielders. The Pirates, 2-1 in exhibition play, rode that jet stream to jump to an 8-0 lead.

Craig Wilson and Adam Hyzdu also homered. Jack Wilson had three hits, drove in three runs and scored three runs.

Don't be late

Adrian Brown and Derek Bell were supposed to start the game, but they arrived late for the pregame stretch and were benched for disciplinary reasons.

"No big thing," said Manager Lloyd McClendon. "I don't have a doghouse, but we're going to do things the Pirate way. And the Pirate way is to be on time."

Hermansen started in place of Brown. Subbing for Bell, Tony Alvarez was 2 for 5.

A good start

While staked to a four-run lead before making his debut as a Pirates starter, Ron Villone felt the juices flowing in his two innings of work.

"Practice is great, but it gets old sometimes. You get so wound up for the games. The adrenaline is pumping. All right, it's that time of year again. It's start all over. I guess I'm an adrenaline junkie," said Villone, who allowed one hit to go with a walk and a hit batsman.

Villone, signed as a free agent from the Houston Astros, concentrated on throwing fastballs and keeping the ball down to induce groundouts, a pattern he hopes to repeat every outing. He benefited from two double plays and allowed only one ball to leave the infield.

"I want every pitch to be a ground ball. If I get a ground ball, I know these guys are going to make plays behind me. It makes it a lot simpler. The games are going to go faster. If you keep the ball on the ground, more often than not, you'll have success."

Sign 'em up

The Pirates got the 12 remaining players on their 40-man roster under contract yesterday.

Pitchers Dave Williams, Adrian Burnside and Mike Lincoln, shortstop Jack Wilson and outfielders Chad Hermansen, Rob Mackowiak and Tony Alvarez agreed to one year deals.

Pitchers Jimmy Anderson, Bronson Arroyo and Joe Beimel, catcher Craig Wilson and infielder Warren Morris had their contracts renewed.

As of yesterday, General Manager Dave Littlefield could begin renewing the contracts of players with less than three years of service time.

Keeping tabs on Benson

Want to follow pitcher Kris Benson's comeback from elbow surgery? Have a question for him about his arm's condition or his views on the Pirates' season? Check it out at http://www.krisbenson.com/.

A chat line with Benson will be available from 9 to 10 p.m. Sundays, which he will do from Nashville early in the season because he won't be back in the majors until mid-May.

The site has an e-mail feature and contains information on the Benson Battalion, the umbrella group for his various charities, and the summer camps he sponsors. Coming soon is information on Benson's own line of merchandise.

Because his rehabbing his elbow, Benson is on a separate throwing program in camp and won't throw in a spring training game until the third week of March. He will throw three innings or a maximum of 50 pitches against minor-league hitters Tuesday.

Tickets update

The Pirates sold less than half the number of single-game tickets at their open house at PNC Park yesterday than they did a year ago. Considering the 100-loss season and the increase in ticket prices, the Pirates were pleased with the sale of about 32,000 tickets. A total of 13,244 fans went through the gates to view the ballpark.

Last year, on the first day tickets were available, the club sold about 67,000 tickets for the inaugural season at the new ballpark. About 8,000 tickets were sold for the last year at Three Rivers Stadium. The box office will be open again today from noon to 6 p.m.

Season ticket sales are below the 2001 total of about 17,000, but the exact number has not be released.