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Wednesday, March 05, 2003

By Robert Dvorchak, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Bobby Bradley had such a tough outing that he received a warning from an umpire, a rarity in an exhibition game, for hitting a batter.

Bradley, the losing pitcher in yesterday's 10-9 loss to the Blue Jays, allowed a leadoff home run to Dave Berg in the eighth inning and then plunked Mike Colangelo with a pitch. That prompted a warning from Class AAA umpire James Hoye, which left Manager Lloyd McClendon a bit dismayed.

"I just told [Hoye] to use common sense. You're at the end of a ballgame in spring training. You got your younger players out there. There's no history. The kid's struggling with his control. There was no reason to give a warning. Just use common sense. That's all," McClendon said. "It was just a young kid who struggled with his control."

Bradley failed to get an out as the Blue Jays rallied for five runs in the inning. Bradley was charged with four runs on two hits with one walk and a hit batter. Of his 10 pitches, only three were strikes.

"You have to remember that Bradley's coming off [elbow] surgery and, quite frankly, we're not expecting a lot.

"That situation was not a win/win situation. The young man was max effort. He's trying to overimpress us. I thought the best thing was getting him out of the game. The only thing that could've happened was something bad," McClendon said.

"I'm not disappointed in the young man. He's out there giving it his all. He's just not at the level he needs to be quite yet to compete the way he's used to competing."

Tony Alvarez had three RBIs for the Pirates, and Jack Wilson and Abraham Nunez had two hits apiece.

Wells throws well

In a "B" game against the Indians at McKechnie Field yesterday, Kip Wells allowed one hit over three shutout innings to get the win in a 10-3 victory. Wells struck out three batters.

"It's a little bit different," Wells said of pitching in a nearly empty ballpark. "The adrenaline is there, but it's more intense in a bigger situation. As far as the things you're working on, you can still get the same productivity out of it."

First baseman Walter Young, who also played in the game against the Blue Jays, had a two-run home run and a two-run single to lead the Pirates.

David Doster, trying to win a job as a backup infielder, added a two-run homer.

Today's starters

Jeff Suppan and Josh Fogg will pitch today against the Devil Rays. In a "B" game against Duquesne University, Ryan Vogelsong will make his first start of the spring.