Osuna stays hot as Pirates beat Rays
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Jameson Taillon allowed two runs over 4 1/3 innings and Jose Osuna continued to swing a hot bat as the Pirates continued to play well this spring, beating the Tampa Bay Rays, 5-4, Monday.
Taillon, slated to be the Pirates’ No. 2 starter behind Garritt Cole, gave up four hits and two walks while striking out four.
“Overall I thought it was OK,” Taillon said. “I got my pitches in, got my work in. Good and bad. Thought my delivery was kind of inconsistent. I’d nail some pitches consistently, a couple in a row. I’d lose it for a second. I’d find my way back into it.
“That’s kind of the fight. You have good days and bad days. You try to just shorten the gap between good and bad. I thought I did a good job of fighting through it. Got some good work in.”
Osuna, an outfielder, continued his quest to win a roster spot with another strong game, hitting his fifth homer of the spring for the Pirates (15-7). Osuna, 24, who finished last season in Class AAA Indianapolis, is batting .417 with team highs with five homers and 14 RBI.
Shortstop Jordy Mercer also hit a two-run home run for the Pirates.
Adam Frazier went 3-for-5 for Pittsburgh, raising his spring average to .450.
Also on Monday, the Pirates made four roster cuts, sending reliever Pat Light to Class AAA Indianapolis and pitchers Casey Sadler, Angel Sanchez and Jared Lakind to their minor league camp.
The Pirates have 47 players remaining in camp, including 13 non-roster invitees. Outfielder Andrew McCuthen and second baseman Josh Harrison are still currently playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.