Adam Frazier stays hot, Pirates hit 3 home runs in spring loss to Yankees

Adam Frazier is eager to put a rare “off” season behind him. So far this spring, he appears well on his way.

A three-hit outing during a 7-5 loss at the New York Yankees on Saturday bumped Frazier’s average up to .667 through four games after a delayed start to his Grapefruit League season because of a groin injury. Frazier, who hit .230 in 2020 after entering the season with a career average about 50 points higher, had a double while hitting out of the leadoff spot,

“I feel good,” Frazier said during a video conference call with media after the game in Tampa. “I really just am trying to slow things down, made a little adjustment with my hands, (keeping) them away from the body a little bit (so they’re) a little more relaxed. I figure I really like to see the ball a long time.”

Troy Stokes Jr., Bryan Reynolds and Rodolfo Castro homered Saturday for the Pirates (7-5-1), who will host the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.

Reynolds to right ? pic.twitter.com/9NYgHJ5ltK

— Pirates (@Pirates) March 13, 2021

In his first outing since the Pirates signed veteran Trevor Cahill, JT Brubaker allowed four earned runs on five hits — including a D.J. LeMahieu home run — in two innings. Brubaker’s presumed spot in the season-opening starting rotation might have been put in jeopardy by the acquisition of Cahill.

“At the end of the day,” Brubaker said, “it’s in our hands based (on) our performance.”

Brubaker said his performance Saturday — against a regular-season style lineup from a World Series contender in the Yankees — was marred by getting behind in counts.

“They forced some long ABs and fought off some good pitches to where I got into hitter’s counts,” Brubaker said. “You’ve got to stay ahead, especially pitching (against) a team like this.”

Four relievers who figure to be part of the regular-season bullpen — Richard Rodriguez, David Bednar, Geoff Hartlieb and Sam Howard — followed with a scoreless inning each. The Yankees got two unearned runs off of Max Kranick in the seventh, and New York’s Socrates Brito hit a solo homer off of Yerry De Los Santos in the eighth.

Reynolds’ homer was his first of the spring, and Castro’s came a day after his “Little League home run” (four-base error). Stokes Jr.’s home run was his second in the past four games and one of two hits on the day. Stokes also had a diving catch in right field.

A v nice day for @Troy_Stokes15! pic.twitter.com/JAFBEY5sgS

— Pirates (@Pirates) March 13, 2021

Four of the primary combatants for the open job as Pirates’ starting center fielder — Stokes Jr., Anthony Alford (two), Jared Oliva (one) and Brian Goodwin (one) — have combined for six home runs in 50 at-bats.

“When I look at the other outfielders, I mean, we’re all good. We’re all playing well right now,” Stokes Jr. said of a group that also includes Dustin Fowler. “When they do good, it pushes me to do better. So it’s kind of like, I want everybody to ball up.”

Alford, though, was removed from Saturday’s game because of right wrist discomfort after being hit by a pitch in the fourth inning. The Pirates announced he was being examined, but Frazier said Alford indicated he would only miss “a couple days.”

“I think he showed more reaction to pain right there today then he did last year when he broke his elbow,” Frazier said, “but he said he’s all right. So hopefully he is, and it’s just a little bruise and he can get back out there.”

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