The Pirates’ Alika Williams hit a game-tying two-run home run in the sixth inning yesterday, but the Cardinals answered with a run in the eighth off Cam Sanders to beat the Bucs, 3-2, in Bradenton.
Mitch Keller started for the Pirates and pitched into the fourth inning, giving up a solo home run to Nolan Gorman leading off the fourth.
It’s a split squad day for the Pirates, with Braxton Ashcraft scheduled to face the Phillies at LECOM Park, airing at one o’clock this afternoon on WCCS. Bubba Chandler will get the start on the road against the Blue Jays. Manager Donnie Kelly will travel to Dunedin and bench coach Kristopher Negrón will run the team in Bradenton.
WBC
The World Baseball Classic is underway across the globe. Sixteen of the 20 teams in the tournament will be in action today, including Team USA, which will play Brazil in Houston. The Giants’ Logan Webb will start for the U.S. against Brazil’s Bo Takahashi, who pitches for the Seibu Lions in the Nippon Professional League in Japan. First pitch is shortly after 8 o’clock tonight.
