Karstens Pitches Well, Twins Score Two In The Ninth To Beat Buccos

By Zane Heiple

Photo Credit:  Associated Press

Jeff Karstens took the mound for the final Spring Training game of the season and produced a strong outing.  Karstens started so that he would be ready in case he needs to make a spot start in the event James McDonald is unable to go against the St. Louis Cardinals next Tuesday.  He went 4.2 innings without allowing an earned run and only five hits with one walk and one strikeout.

Pittsburgh struck in the first inning when Andrew McCutchen hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Jose Tabata.  In the fourth inning, the Bucs would add two runs.  The first run came off the bat of Steve Pearce’s double, allowing Neil Walker to score.  Pearce would then cross the plate on Matt Diaz’s single. 

The Twins finally struck in the fifth frame when Denard Span scored on a Tsuyoshi Nishioka pop fly to shortstop Ronny Cedeno.

Garrett Olson pitched 1.1 innings in relief without allowing a run and only one hit.  In the bottom of the seventh frame, Minnesota scored again to make it 3-2 when Brandon Roberts doubled off Michael Crotta, scoring Brian Dozier.  Chris Resop came in for the eighth inning and gave up just one hit while striking out one and issuing one walk.  The Twins scored two runs in the ninth to give them a 4-3 victory over the Pirates.

The Pittsburgh Pirates ended the 2011 Spring Training season with an 11-20 record.  Up next for the Buccos will be a two-game exhibition series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Ross Ohlendorf will start for the Pirates and will be opposed by Roy Oswalt.

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!