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Tuesday, March 05, 2002

By Robert Dvorchak, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

BRADENTON, Fla. -- It was a long and uncomfortable day, or more precisely a day/night doubleheader played in front of sparse crowds with fans bundled up in blankets. But a sweep made it a productive one for the Pirates..

With a game-time temperature of 50 degrees, the Pirates rallied in the eighth inning to defeat the Indians, 5-4, in a day game at McKechnie Field for their third win in three starts at home. Shawn Gilbert hit a two-run home run to tie the score and Rob Mackowiak singled to drive in the winning run.

"If we were playing a game in Pittsburgh today, it would probably seem warm," Mackowiak said. "It was a long day at the park."

Players and coaches dug deep into their lockers for sweatshirts and heavier clothing. Pitching coach Spin Williams even dug out his long johns for the night game against the Reds in Sarasota.

Chris Spurling pitched a scoreless eighth inning to get the win in his first Grapefruit League appearance. Scott Service, who has played for seven teams in a five-year career, got the save.

"That was tough," Service said. "It was hard to get a grip on the ball. It felt like it was covered with baby powder."

Signed as a free agent, Service won't handicap his chances of making the team.

"I'm further along than I thought I'd be after having surgery [to remove bone spurs] last year," Service said. "Hey, I'm 35. If I had to carry water, I'll do it to stay in the big leagues."

Starter Dave Williams gave up three runs on five hits in his three innings. It was the first earned runs given up by a Pirates starter in the first five games.

In the nightcap in Sarasota, with a game-time temperature of 48 degrees, starter Salomon Torres pitched three perfect innings with three strikeouts to get the win in his first game in more than four years as the Pirates topped the Reds, 7-1.

Torres previously pitched in the majors for the Expos in 1997 and has been coaching and pitching in the Dominican Republic in the interim.

Manager Lloyd McClendon was ejected after the first inning by umpire Marvin Hudson for arguing a ball called on Ken Griffey Jr.

Fresh start

The Pirates are preparing reliever Scott Sauerbeck to be a candidate for the starting rotation. Sauerbeck, a career reliever, pitched three innings of the first game, giving up one hit -- a solo home run by Brady Anderson -- while striking out three.

If he doesn't make the rotation, Sauerbeck stands to benefit the extra pitching. He struggled in the first two months of last year and thinks the extra work will help even if he ends up back in the bullpen.

"I was pleased with what I saw," McClendon said. "It's a win-win situation. Whether he makes the starting rotation or not, the one thing it does is stretches him back out. Hopefully, we can get him back to being consistent. If he is in the bullpen, he can find his groove a lot earlier. As much as we can get him out there, we will."

Sauerbeck, who drove in a run in the first game, will go four innings in his next outing.

"It gives me motivation to keep pitching better," Sauerbeck said. "Just to force their hand, just to prove people wrong who don't think I can start."

And of yesterday's conditions, Sauerbeck said: "It felt like Chicago at the end of the season. It was colder than it was all winter back in Cincinnati."

Big scare

Alex Escobar, acquired by the Indians in the Roberto Alomar trade, provided a scare when his left knee was hurt when he made a catch in fourth inning. He was taken off the field in a golf cart. The preliminary diagnosis was a muscle strain.