Notes from Rays-Pirates game

By JOHN LEMBO
jlembo@bradenton.com

BRADENTON - Tom Gorzelanny threw one inning.
Paul Maholm was saddled with the loss.
Yet both pitchers did enough to please Pittsburgh Pirate manager John Russell.
Gorzelanny, scheduled to start Thursday's opener in Clearwater before he was scratched with irritation in his shoulder, started Sunday's game against Tampa Bay. He allowed one hit - a double by Tampa Bay's B.J. Upton that left-fielder Jason Bay lost in the sun - in an inning of work.
Most importantly, however, he was pain-free.
"After his first three or four pitches, he really settled down. I though he threw the ball great," Russell said following Pittsburgh's 7-5 loss at McKechine Field. "When you have a little irritation in the shoulder, you obviously like to go out and make sure it feels good. He feels great, and that's a good sign."
Gorzelanny won 14 games for the Pirates last season - the most by a Pittsburgh lefty since Denny Neagle won 14 in 1996.
"He's a fierce competitor. You get him in a game atmosphere, he turns it up," Russell said. "He prepares well."
Maholm was touched up for three runs in the second when he allowed Upton's two-run triple and a RBI double to Cliff Floyd.
"He threw well," Russell said. "Guys are getting a bit of feel for where they want to throw the ball...I thought he threw the ball very well. He's been looking real good all spring."

DOUG ON THE MOVE
Doug Mientkiewicz, a Gold Glove first baseman and a non-roster invitee with the Pirates this spring, started Sunday's game at third base. He played there just once previously, and that was in 2003 when he was with the Minnesota Twins.
Mientkiewicz fielded his one ground ball cleanly, and tagged out Upton during a first-inning rundown. Russell said Mientkiewicz will see time at third, first and in the outfield this spring.
"It's something he has to get used to," Russell said. "I don't want to lock him into one place. We want to get him the feel of playing the outfield, playing third - we already know he can play first. He has the ability to do it. He works awfully hard."

FIRST OF MANY?
The attendance was 5,827 on Sunday, giving the Pirates their first home sellout of the spring. A total of $2 per fan was donated to the United Way of Manatee County, adding up to a donation of $11, 654.

UP NEXT
The Pirates (1-3) return to Clearwater to face the Philadelphia Phillies, making it the third game between the Keystone State rivals this spring. Matt Morris is schedueld to start for the Pirates, and Casey Fossum, Luis Munoz, Romulo Sanchez, Masumi Kuwata, Evan Meek and Hector Carrasco are also slated to pitch for Pittsburgh.
The two teams will also meet in a B game at Clearwater, which will begin at 9:30 a.m.