Pirates-Twins Notebook 3/12

By JOHN LEMBO
jlembo@bradenton.com
BRADENTON – Eric Hinske spent the last two days taking swings off a hitting tee, his first semblance of baseball activity since suffering a left rib contusion early in the spring.
Manager John Russell is looking forward to getting the veteran outfielder back in the lineup.
“He’s coming around,” Russell said. “We still have time. Hopefully, we get him out there a little sooner rather than later now, because before you know it, you’re going to start running out of time. But I think he’s pretty close to getting some field activity and progressing a little further and get him in the games here hopefully, pretty soon.”
Hinske is hitless in three at-bats this spring.
Russell said utility infielder Andy Philips (back tightness) is day-to-day, while switch-hitting second basemen Shelby Ford (jammed wrist) will be shut down for a few days.
“It’s a little tender (Thursday) swinging left handed,” Russell said. “We’ll just monitor it.”
POWER UP: Craig Monroe wasn’t the only Pirate to go yard Thursday – Nate McLouth and Ryan Doumit also homered for Pittsburgh.
It was the second of the spring for McLouth and first for Doumit. Both came in the third inning off Minnesota starter Scott Baker.
LOOKING TO BOUNCE BACK: Reliever Sean Burnett has given up runs in two consecutive outings after allowing just one run over his first four games.
Burnett, who surrendered a home run Monday against the Boston Red Sox, was touched up for three runs on four hits Thursday against the Twins. His ERA is 6.43 on the spring.
HERE THEY COME: Thursday’s attendance was 5,215 – the third consecutive game the Pirates drew over 5,000 fans to McKechnie Field.
The next two home games should also pack them in: the Pirates host the New York Yankees on Saturday and will play the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday in the first of McKechnie Field’s two night games this spring.
HE’S BACK: Dave Davidson has returned to the Pirates after Canada failed to make it out of pool play of the World Baseball Classic.
A reliever, Davidson is scheduled to pitch Friday against the Phillies. His last appearance for the Pirates was Feb. 27 against the Atlanta Braves.