Pirates Surge Past Rays 8-4 With Late Rally

The Pirates defeated Tampa Bay 8-4 at LECOM Field on Sunday, using a late-inning scoring push to slip past the Rays.

The game looked like it would turn into a track meet for a while, but relievers Justin Meis and Isaac Mattson eventually managed to stymie the Rays, allowing Pittsburgh’s bats to cruise to victory. 

The Pirates managed a two-out rally in the first inning, with a Ke’Bryan Hayes single and a hit by pitch drawn by Andrew McCutchen setting the table for Connor Joe’s RBI single.

Tampa Bay tied it the next inning, then went ahead 2-1 in the fifth with an RBI single of their own. That sparked a back and forth sequence, as Hayes singled in another run to tie it in the bottom of the frame, then Rays’ second baseman Brandon Lowe homered in the top of the sixth.

2020 first round pick Nick Gonzales followed Lowe up with his first home run of the spring, scoring Josiah Sightler and putting the Pirates back in front. The Rays managed to pull even once again, but they couldn’t keep up with Pittsburgh’s final scoring push, as outfield prospect Matt Gorski and third baseman Shawn Ross both homered, putting the Pirates ahead for good.

Up Next

The Pirates are set to head to Clearwater tomorrow, where they’ll take on the Philadelphia Phillies at 1:05 p.m. 

Pirates’ right-handed Martín Pérez will start, looking to build on a 1.29 ERA in seven innings this spring.