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Wednesday, March 13, 2002

By Robert Dvorchak, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Scott Sauerbeck and Bronson Arroyo were removed from the Pirates' starting rotation mix before the Pirates dropped a doubleheader to the Texas Rangers yesterday, leaving seven pitchers competing for five spots.

"They told me a couple of days ago I was going back to the bullpen," said Sauerbeck, who started a game for the first time since he was with the New York Mets' Class AAA affiliate in Norfolk in 1998. "I knew all along it was where I was headed."

Sauerbeck has been used exclusively as a reliever in his three seasons with the Pirates.

After the Pirates lost the first game, 3-2, Sauerbeck was rocked for seven runs and six hits, including a grand slam by Kevin Mench, as they dropped the second game, 13-4.

Although he was tempted to throw his bread-and-butter curveball, Sauerbeck used the outing to work on his fastball.

"The easy thing would have been to give in. I stayed with it," Sauerbeck said.

Arroyo also pitched the second game and allowed a run on two hits in 2 1/3 innings. He was told on Monday by pitching coach Spin Williams about his bullpen assignment.

"He told me I was fighting for a job in the pen," Arroyo said. "I'll put up the best numbers I can, even if it means I'll be starting again in Nashville."

Tony McKnight also is out of the mix, leaving Jimmy Anderson, Kip Wells, David Williams, Josh Fogg, Sean Lowe, Salomon Torres and Pat Rapp in the running.

Fogg will start today against the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater. Lowe will pitch in a minor-league game at Pirate City.

Good outing

In the opener yesterday, Ron Villone allowed one run and two hits in four innings. He struck out four and walked one.

"Something to build on," Villone said. "My fastball's a little erratic. I'm working on locating my pitches."

Villone said he is focusing on his own performance rather than paying attention to the pitching derby.

"I have to concentrate on what I have to do," said Villone, signed as a free agent from the Houston Astros.

Rangers win 2

The Pirates scored two unearned runs to take a 2-1 lead in the first game, but reliever Brian Smith allowed two runs in the bottom the seventh and got the loss. Rafael Palmeiro tied the score with a home run, and Frank Catalanotto singled in the winning run.

Humberto Cota tripled and scored on a passed ball, and Chris Pritchett scored on a wild pitch for the Pirates.

In the second game, Jack Wilson and Adam Hyzdu hit solo home runs for the Pirates, and Armando Rios snapped an 0-for-14 drought with a double, his first hit since his knee was injured July 31.

"He seems to be getting more comfortable, moving real good, more aggressive at the plate," McClendon said of Rios.

Hyzdu has six hits and seven RBIs in 12 at-bats.

Kevin Young was taken out of the second game at the end of the first inning. He slid into the tarp attempting to catch a foul ball. He was not injured. McClendon would not say why Young was removed.