Barmes shines with bat in first start at second base
BRADENTON, Fla. -- Clint Barmes made the most of his first start at second base in four years ... at bat.
Barmes drilled a double with two outs in the second to drive in the first run of the Pirates' 2-2 tie in 10 innings with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Afield, a sellout crowd of 7,959 -- the third largest in McKechnie Field history -- saw Barmes have little action in his first start at the old-new position since Sept. 5, 2010. Barmes was the Rockies' regular second baseman that season, across from shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.
In his five innings, Barmes got one chance, on a third-inning grounder by Logan Forsythe.
"We said we would spin Barmes around the infield," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said of his starting shortstop of 2012-13.
Barmes is not only up for the task, but enthusiastic about it.
"It'll be exciting to move around. Something to break up the routine," Barmes said. "Wherever they need me, even third or maybe first, I'm all for it."