Home runs by Wander Franco and Austin Meadows fueled the Tampa Bay Rays to a 3-1 Grapefruit League win over the Pittsburgh Pirates Wednesday at Charlotte Sports Park.
Franco’s home run came in the bottom of the second inning, as he took the first pitch he saw from Miguel Yajure and sent it beyond the front office building in right field.
“I think it landed in the parking lot,” Franco said laughing after the game.
“I told him he should have done it yesterday on the ESPN game [against Boston,]” catcher Mike Zunino joked. “I’m sure he’s going to do it his fair share, but to see him put a ball on top of that building is pretty impressive.”
Franco’s blast came after left-hander’s Shane McClanahan and Josh Fleming worked a scoreless inning apiece. McClanahan allowed a leadoff single to Brian Goodwin, but touched 101 MPH on the radar gun. Fleming’s inning of relief was a perfect frame.
The game remained 1-0 until the bottom of the fifth when Vidal Brujan was hit by a Nick Marvel pitch, and Meadows followed with his own blast on to the roof in right-center, his second home run of the spring.
Pittsburgh’s only run came in the top of the second, when Garrett Whitley misplayed a Rodolfo Castro fly ball into a two-base error, allowing Troy Stokes Jr., who doubled to start the inning to score an unearned run.
Tampa Bay also saw Hunter Strickland, Andrew Kittredge, and Jeffrey Springs throw scoreless innings of relief.
Brujan OK After HBP
Vidal Brujan left Wednesday’s game after being hit by Marvel’s pitch on the back foot, but according to manager Kevin Cash, the 23-year-old is fine.
“Just walking in I talked to [head trainer Joe Benge] and they said he was penciled in the lineup tomorrow, and we’ll keep it that way,” Cash said. “For him to say he’d be good to go, that’s a good sign. We’ll check on him tomorrow first thing.”
Tomorrow
Rays at Minnesota Twins, 1:05 pm first pitch from Hammond Stadium, Fox Sports Sun (Fox Sports North broadcast)
Rays scheduled pitchers: LHP Ryan Yarbrough, RHP Luis Patino
Twins scheduled pitchers: RHP Kenta Maeda, RHP Hansel Robles, LHP Taylor Rogers
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
