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Monday, March 04, 2002

By Robert Dvorchak, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

BRADENTON, Fla. -- On a blustery afternoon during which each team committed three errors,, the Pirates dropped a 6-4 decision to the Royals yesterday when a ninth-inning rally fell short.

The Pirates tied the score in the eighth inning on Adam Hyzdu's sacrifice fly and a run-scoring single by Humberto Cota. But Kansas City got the winning runs in the ninth against Gregg Olson when Dave McCarty doubled, Donnie Sadler tripled and Angel Berroa singled in a run.

The Pirates had runners at first and second with nobody out in the bottom of the ninth. Warren Morris lined a shot back through the middle to Mac Suzuki, who started a double play and nearly pulled off a triple play.

"We went from being in real good position to almost hitting into a triple play," Manager Lloyd McClendon said. "It was a pretty exciting ballgame."

Shoddy fielding by the Pirates staked the Royals to a 2-0 lead in the first, but the Pirates tied the score in their half of the inning.

Pokey Reese drew a one-out walk and stole second. After an infield single by Aramis Ramirez, Kevin Young lined a double into the gap in left-center field to drive in two runs. Ramirez scored from first on a close play at the plate.

Young and Ramirez each had two hits for the Pirates.

It was the first game the Pirates have not homered.

Another chance

Dave Williams will start the day game at McKechnie Field today, and Salomon Torres is slated to start the night game against the Reds in Sarasota.

A nonroster player, Torres is a long shot to make the team but he is one of the more interesting stories in camp. Torres broke into the major leagues with the Giants in 1993 when he was 21. He was the starting pitcher in a game the Giants needed to win in order to tie the Braves for a division title, but he was knocked out in the fourth inning against the Dodgers.

The loss had a lingering psychological effect on him and he never reached his full potential. Four years later, he retired after pitching for the Expos.

He pitched in Korea last year and played winter ball in his native Dominican Republic.

"I realize how much I missed pitching at the major-league level," Torres said. "I have a fire burning inside me that hasn't been there in a long time."

Maturing process

Wilson Guzman had one of the tougher weeks in camp. Not only did the Pirates discover that he is four years older than his listed age of 24, he has been out with tendinitis in his left elbow.

Guzman, who has gone from prospect to veteran with the discovery of his true age, threw on the side yesterday. He missed all of last season after having rotator cuff surgery in March.

Macho Man

Former professional wrestler Randy "Macho Man" Savage assisted in throwing out the first pitch yesterday. Savage was once a catcher/infielder in the Cardinals' minor-league system before giving up the glove for the World Wrestling Federation.