It's only spring training, so Pirates' Steven Brault can take 'getting punished'

When he walks to the mound for a spring training game, Steven Brault fills his head with three purposes:

• Renewing familiarity with hitters he hasn’t seen since last season.

• Rebuilding his arm strength for the next six months.

• Taking it on the chin, if necessary.

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ 6-5 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla., wasn’t anywhere close to a knockout punch for Brault, who threw a complete game and struck out 14 in his final 16 innings of 2020.

He threw 48 pitches and allowed five hits and three runs in three innings Sunday, his longest outing of the spring. He could have gone longer in a regular-season scenario, but 2½ weeks before Opening Day is no time for a pitcher to test his longevity.

It did give Brault what he values almost as much as arm strength: knowledge.

“Getting to face good hitters and getting punished when you make mistakes,” Brault said. “That’s what you can’t get in live BPs or bullpens. You don’t get the feedback that you do when you’re facing Phillies.

“Today was a good growing day for me.”

In his previous three spring innings, he allowed no runs, no hits but four walks. On Sunday, Brault gave up a 444-foot solo home run to Odubel Herrera that left the bat at 105.8 mph, according to baseballsavant.com. But he walked only one batter and threw 62.5% of his pitches for strikes (30 of 48).

“He was on the plate, in the zone,” manager Derek Shelton said. “A little bit of contact he probably didn’t want.

“Overall, he walked off healthy and continues to take strides forward toward the regular season, which is a good thing.”

Brault said he’s feeling “pretty comfortable” as a starter. “Not comfortable like I’m good enough. I’m never going to be good enough,” he said. “But comfortable as in I like being in a routine. I feel good. My body feels really good.”

He always has preferred starting to pitching in relief, although he has done both in his career.

“You give up a few runs as a starter, it’s OK,” he said. “You give up a few runs as a reliever, you hate yourself forever. I like being a starter, for sure.”

Joey Cora's home run call is great ? pic.twitter.com/sbXqtQiace

— Pirates (@Pirates) March 14, 2021

The Pirates (7-6-1) managed only four hits against six Phillies pitchers, but two left the ballpark. Jacob Stallings extended his hitting streak to four games with a home run in the first inning against starting left-hander Matt Moore. Rodolfo Castro, 21, slugged a grand slam in the seventh off Jakob Hernandez.

“Jake had a really good season last year, especially against left-handed pitching,” Shelton said.

Stallings hit .324 against left-handers in 2020, compared to .220 off right-handers.

Castro’s shot marked the third time in three days he rounded the bases on one swing. He recorded a so-called “Little League home run” Friday when he scored on a dropped fly ball. He also homered Saturday.

“It’s exciting to see young guys do things like that and have consistent at-bats and get their feet wet,” Shelton said.

Notes: Anthony Alford didn’t play after getting hit by a pitch in the right wrist Saturday. Shelton said Alford has a contusion but participated in “baseball activities” Sunday. “It’s a day-to-day thing we have to monitor,” he said. … Kevin Newman batted leadoff and was 0 for 2 with a walk as the designated hitter in his first appearance since leaving a game March 7 with left hamstring tightness. … Clay Holmes did not allow a run in his one inning and has made five scoreless appearances.

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