Pirates lose to Reds, 6-0
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BRADENTON, Fla. -- Ian Snell gave up six earned runs, five in a double-filled second inning, and exited one out into the fifth inning with a blister on his right big toe as the Pirates got shelled by a mostly backup and minor-league Cincinnati lineup, 6-0, today before 5,768 at McKechnie Field.
Snell's counterpart, Cincinnati's Aaron Harang, threw six no-hit innings and struck out four. Only Freddy Sanchez on two walks reached base against Harang. Only three balls left the infield until Harang's sixth and final inning, when two more batters flew out. The Pirates mustered two hits off the Reds' bullpen.
Reds center fielder Darnell McDonald, with 21 games of major-league experience since 2004, got three hits in his first three at-bats, and each McDonald and Paul Janish had two-run doubles in that second inning.
Snell, pitching for the first time since a World Baseball Classic start Monday, settled down somewhat after that eight-batter second inning while allowing three more hits and a Jonny Gomes home run before departing four batters into the fifth.
"It's just a blister; it'll go away," said Snell, who last started for the Pirates Feb. 26 before departing for the WBC. "The front of the mound was hard, like concrete. [The blister] just started coming out the second inning. I was afraid to push off and let the ball go. That's what spring training is for, getting your work in. I got blasted. But, hey, it happens."
Jason Davis, in relief, pitched two scoreless innings to extend his spring string to 10 in a row.
First Published March 22, 2009 3:46 pm
