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From Mirror, wire reports
BRADENTON, Fla. --Playing a game that featured future stars from the Minor League systems of both teams Thursday night, the Pittsburgh Pirates beat Baltimore, 3-1, in a seven-inning game in Grapefruit League action.
Paul Skenes started for Pittsburgh and struck out the first two batters, including the Orioles' Jackson Holliday, their No. 1 pick in the 2022 draft. He got three outs, and the first three pitches of the game from him were clocked at 101, 101 and 102 mph. Reliever Patrick Reilly struck out the side in the sixth for Pittsburgh. Bubba Chandler pitched the seventh and got the save.
Offensively,Jack Brannigan's sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the first plate a run. Teammate Jase Bowen went 2-for-3 while starting in center.
In the first game of the day, Pirates reliever Ryan Borucki was scored upon for the first time this spring, giving up four runs, three earned, in the seventh inning in a 5-2 loss.
The star of the game was Pirates starter Marco Gonzales, who gave up just one run in five innings of work. He threw 74 pitches, 48 strikes, while facing 19 batters. Aroldis Chapman pitched a 1-2-3 sixth inning for the Pirates.
The Pirates scored a run in each of the first two innings with Billy McKinney delivering a run-scoring single to extend his on-base streak to 13 this spring.
The Pirates will travel to Tampa today to take on the New York Yankees. Quinn Priester is slated to start for Pittsburgh against Clarke Schmidt.
Brewers' closer out
PHOENIX -- The Milwaukee Brewers will open the season without All-Star closer Devin Williams, who won't throw for six weeks and could miss at least three months while recovering from two stress fractures in his back.
Williams pitched through back soreness at the end of last season, when the Brewers were NL Central champions. The right-hander was feeling discomfort again this spring, and after an initial MRI in Arizona, was examined Wednesday by Dr. Robert Watkins in California. Watkins, a leading spine specialist, diagnosed the fractures.
Williams told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in a story posted online Thursday that there was a difference in the initial diagnosis and what Watkins saw when the pitcher went for a second opinion.
After the MRI by the team, new Brewers manager Pat Murphy indicated there was no reason for concern, telling reporters Sunday, "Felt like he could move forward with it and just treat it. ... Give him some time off."
The 29-year-old right-hander was 8-3 with a 1.53 ERA and 36 saves in 40 chances last year. Over his past two All-Star seasons, Williams had 183 strikeouts in 119 1/3 innings. He is 26-10 with a 1.89 ERA and 54 saves over 219 career appearances since his debut late in 2019. He was the National League Rookie of the Year in 2020.
Judge feeling better?
TAMPA, Fla. -- New York Yankees star Aaron Judge could be back in the lineup Saturday after being slowed by abdominal discomfort.
Judge hasn't taken on-field batting practice or hit in a game since Sunday. He had an MRI on Monday.
New York manager Aaron Boone intends to have Judge to play center field Saturday against Toronto. Judge is more focused on the March 28 opener at Houston.
"We're in no rush," Judge said Thursday. "In the season, I'm definitely in there right now but our goal is March 28."
Judge started feeling discomfort with his abdomen during his swing's follow-through about a week ago.