Pirates-Jays Notes

RECAP: Steve Pearce hit his team-leading fourth home run of the spring, but the Pittsburgh Pirates lost 4-1 to the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday at Knology Park in Dunedin. Pirate starter Ian Snell allowed two runs on five hits in four innings, and Josh Wilson singled twice for the Pittsburgh (5-12).

HAPPY WITH THE WORK: Snell needed 75 pitches to get through four innings Saturday, but the righty didn’t seem to mind.
Facing a Blue Jay lineup that included Scott Rolen, Frank Thomas, Alex Rios and Vernon Wells, Snell allowed two runs on five hits and fanned four. He went out on a high note, needing just 12 pitches to pitch a perfect fourth.
“I’m glad they brought a lot of their big hitters out,” said Snell, now 1-2 with a 4.15 ERA in four starts this spring. “It’s just going to make me better for the season. To me, the American League is way different than the National League. (The hitters) don’t bite on some of the breaking balls, they don’t chase anything. It’s like you have to make them hit the ball to get them out.”
Snell made one mistake – an elevated chang- up that Matt Stairs hit for a two-out, two-run double during the third inning.
“I thought he threw the ball fine,” said Pirate manager John Russell. “He was working on controlling the running game, which he did a great job of. He accomplished a lot (Saturday).”

GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION: Pirate reliever Elmer Dessens, who hadn’t pitched in a game this spring because of back problems, threw his first inning of the season Saturday. He allowed one hit in one inning, and threw 10 of his 13 pitches for strikes.
“I was excited to be back out there,” said Dessens, who made his major-league debut with the Pirates in 1996. “I feel pretty good.”
Despite getting such a late start to the spring, Dessens feels he can be ready in time for Opening Day.
“We’ll see. He’s come back pretty nice,” Russell said. “We’ll keep running (him) out and see how he responds.”

STEVE KEEPS SWINGING: Pirate outfielder Steve Pearce made the most of his one at-bat Saturday, hitting a home run in the top of the eighth inning. Though his average has dipped to .265, Pearce leads Pittsburgh in home runs (four) and RBIs (10) this spring.

AUCTION: Pirates Charities is having a silent auction Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday at McKechnie Field to help raise funds to buy a bus for the Boys and Girls Club of Manatee County. Items up for bid include jerseys autographed by Jason Bay, Adam LaRoche, Evgeni Malkin, Ben Roethlisberger and Mel Blount, a bat autographed by Freddy Sanchez, which he used to win the 2006 National League batting title, a baseball signed by the 2006 American and National League All-Star teams, and a framed jersey autographed by Mario Lemieux. Last year’s auction raised over $7,000, according to the Pirates.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “They’re going to be good. They’re a sleeper.” Snell, referring to the Toronto Blue Jays.

UP NEXT: The Pirates host the defending world champions, the Boston Red Sox, 1:05 p.m. Sunday at McKechnie Field. Tom Gorzelanny will start for the Pirates, with John Grabow, Damaso Marte, Jaret Wright, Byung-Hyun Kim and Masumi Kuwata expected to relieve.
Kyle Snyder will start for the Red Sox.