Rivas may have leg up

By MIKE HENRY
mhenry@bradenton.com

BRADENTON -- Luis Rivas may have moved ahead of the field in the competition for a back-up infield job with the Pirates.
The 28-year-old Venezuelan, who is playing third base and batting ninth for the Pirates against the Yankees in the first-ever night game at McKechnie Field, last played a full major-league season in 2003 with Minnesota. He spent 2006 with Durham in the Rays' organization before being signed by Cleveland as a minor-league free agent.
Rivas played under new Pirates manager John Russell in 1999 and 2000 when Russell managed New Britain, the Twins' Double-A Eastern League affiliate.
Last year, when Russell was managing the Phillies' Triple-A team in Ottawa, he watched Rivas play for Buffalo (Cleveland's International League team) and became intrigued when he saw how well Rivas was swinging the bat.
The middle infielder finished with a .263 average, 11 home runs and 17 doubles in 410 at-bats. The Pirates signed Rivas to a minor-league contract in December, a month after Russell's hiring.
This spring, Rivas -- who is contending for a job with Pittsburgh native Josh Wilson and veteran Chris Gomez -- is hitting .343 (12-for-35) with five doubles and a triple and has yet to make an error. He has reached base safely in the 13 games in which he has appeared but was 0-for-4 Tuesday against the Reds (reaching on a fielder's choice).
""Luis is a fierce competitor," Russell said. "He's in great shape, he's moving well and he plays the game the right way.
"He looks like he did when I saw him with the Twins," Russell added. "He's agile, athletic, quick and he's having fun, and his swing is there. I'm very pleased with what he's done so far."

Up next: The Pirates will have to recover quickly after playing the historic first night game in McKechnie Field history.
Manager John Russell's squad travels to Clearwater to face the Phillies at 1:05 p.m. on Thursday. Ian Snell (1-2, 4.15 ERA) is scheduled to start for Pittsburgh against Adam Eaton. Snell could work six innings, with Evan Meek, Jaret Wright and Franquelis Osoria getting the balance of the work.