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Lineup likely to open season defeats Red Sox in shutout

Wednesday, March 26, 2003

By Robert Dvorchak, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

BRADENTON, Fla. -- With opening day a week away, the Pirates fielded their "A" lineup for the first time and came away with a 3-0 win against the Red Sox, their first shutout win of the spring. Manager Lloyd McClendon said it was a good feeling to write out the card.

He described it as "speed, power, speed, balance, veterans, veterans and more veterans."

"There's no more fiddling and trying to figure things out. Things are figured out," McClendon said. "I think it's important for our unit to start playing together as much as possible. I told them before the day started that I was very pleased with where they were. The effort certainly has been there. As a result, we're starting to play good baseball."

The Pirates have won eight of their past 10 and climbed back to .500 for the first time since Feb. 28, but it was the bottom of the order and the bench that beat the Red Sox. Jack Wilson doubled and scored from second on a Pokey Reese single that didn't leave the infield for the only run they needed. They got two more runs in the eighth, one on a single by Kevin Young after Rob Mackowiak tripled.

General Manager Dave Littlefield liked seeing the "A" group together for the first time. "It's major league is what it is," he said. " I feel confident we're a better group than we were a year ago. As to how it plays out, I'm kind of anxious to see myself how these guys play. The true test is the major-league season."

Little by little

The starting pitching hasn't put up lustrous numbers this spring, and No. 4 starter Jeff Suppan had been "frankly, mediocre," to use Littlefield's words. But Suppan pitched six shutout innings with the wind blowing in yesterday and gave up four hits.

"Overall, I feel good about this outing," said Suppan, who wanted the opportunity to work another game with Jason Kendall and his new teammates. "I'm just trying to improve each outing to get ready for the season. In situations where I needed to pitch, I felt I was making a better pitch."

Suppan relies on finesse and control to get outs, and he was signed as a free agent from the Royals because the Pirates view him as a workhorse.

"We had some guys who went to the post every fifth day, but they didn't win," McClendon said. "We didn't get Suppan to go to the post every fifth day. We got him because we thought he could go out and compete and win ballgames. He's thrown the ball better every time out."

Final touches

Coming into camp with 65 players, the Pirates are now down to 27. The final roster moves could come today.

The organization's brain trust met last night to review the bullpen candidates and Adam Hyzdu's role.

Jose Fernandez, a non-roster invitee as an infielder, was sold to the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japanese Professional League for an undisclosed sum of cash. Fernandez played in Korea last year. He was not going to make the roster, and the Pirates have Mike Gulan at Nashville in case they need a spare infielder during the season.

The Pirates will not have any first-year players to open the season.

"Nothing against rookies. We just didn't feel like there were any rookies ready," Littlefield said.

"We don't have any minor-league players that are ready to help us get better."