Pirates tune up for regular season with pair of wins
BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) – Kip Wells and Josh Fogg turned in consecutive sparkling outings to end the Pirates’ spring training on a high note. Fogg became the first Pittsburgh pitcher since 1996 to win five games in spring training as the Pirates beat the Detroit Tigers 8-3 Saturday in the exhibition finale for both teams.
He went six innings and raised his spring record to 5-1. He allowed three runs, two earned, on nine hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
Wells gave up one hit and one walk in 4 2-3 sharp innings and Randall Simon went 3-for-3 with two doubles against his old club as Pittsburgh also beat Detroit on Friday, 4-0.
Simon extended his hitting streak to 14 games on Saturday and minor leaguer Nate McLouth homered and tripled
Denny Neagle was the previous Pirates pitcher to win five games in an exhibition season.
Simon, Pittsburgh’s first baseman, doubled home the game’s first run in the first inning. He goes into the regular season with 20 hits in 50 at-bats.
McLouth, who spent last season with Class A Lynchburg, hit a two-run homer in a four-run fourth for a 6-0 lead.
Jason Kendall had two hits and two RBIs for the Pirates. Matt Stairs hit a home run, his second in two days, while Rob Mackowiak and Ronny Paulino had two hits apiece.
Loser Adam Bernero allowed six runs – two earned – and eight hits in five innings. Detroit’s Dmitri Young was 3-for-3.
Wells was relieved about his performance on Friday.
“It’s about time,” said Wells, who left with a blister on his right middle finger. “I’ve been waiting all spring for that.”
Four Pittsburgh relievers combined to allow just one more Detroit hit after Wells’ departure.
Both teams open the regular season Monday, Detroit hosting Minnesota and Pittsburgh visiting Cincinnati for the first regular-season game at the Great American Ball Park.
Pittsburgh finished the exhibition season with a 16-14 record, including 11 wins in the last 14 games.
Detroit ended 9-19.