Pirate Notes 3/9

By JOHN LEMBO
jlembo@bradenton.com

BRADENTON – The results weren’t there, but the progress was.
Consequently, Pirates starter Tom Gorzelanny was pleased with his outing Monday against the Boston Red Sox at McKechnie Field.
“I was trying to get a few things down, and felt I made some really good strides with that,” he said. “But working on stuff during the games doesn’t always go your way.”
Gorzelanny allowed a three-run home run to Josh Bard, the third batter of the game, after he hit Nick Green and walked Jed Lowrie. Two innings later, Gorzelanny allowed a solo shot to Green that bounced off the green batter’s eye in centerfield.
The lefty said he was working on basic things Monday, such as tightening up his mechanics.
“This is the time to do it,” he said. “I felt that I made some good strides. Now I’ll get to work more on it in the next bullpen and the next game.”
After winning 14 games in 2007 – the first Pirate lefty to win that many since Denny Neagle in 1996 – Gorzelanny went 6-9 last year with an ERA of 6.66.
“With everything that happened last season with me…it kind of affected me mentally, and I’m kind of using this spring to get over that,” he said. “Now I feel good, I can throw strikes and I can put the ball where I want it. We’re getting there and I’m excited. I feel real positive about what happened (Monday) and where I’m going in the next outing and next bullpen.”


WELCOME BACK: Outfielder Jose Tabata, who had been sidelined with a sore right shoulder, went 3-for-3 Monday with four RBIs, and tied the game with a two-run double in the 10th.
It was the first hit of the spring for Tabata, acquired for the New York Yankees last July.
“This kid has the potential to be a special player,” said manager John Russell. “He’s a good guy to have in the organization.”
PLEADING HIS CASE: Garrett Jones continues to surge as he fights for a spot on the Pirates’ Opening Day roster.
The outfielder/first baseman stroked two doubles, scored three runs and made a diving play on a grounder at first Monday. Jones is batting .409 and has scored nine runs in 10 games this spring.
LONG ONE: Monday’s game lasted four hours and 10 minutes and included 17 pitchers.
DRIVING ‘EM IN: Freddy Sanchez went 0-for-2 Monday, but drove in two runs, giving him six RBIs in eight games.
He’s also batting .389.