Jaso's HR, 5-run 3rd lead Bucs past Phils
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The Pirates batted around in the third inning against the Phillies' likely Opening Day starter, Jeremy Hellickson, en route to an 13-8 Grapefruit League win Saturday at Spectrum Field.
Pirates right fielder John Jaso had a big day, with a three-run homer, a double, a walk, three runs scored and four RBIs. Eury Perez and Elias Diaz hit their first homers of the spring in the fifth and ninth innings, respectively.
Pirates right-hander Tyler Glasnow, the organization's No. 1 prospect according to MLBPipeline.com, limited the Phillies to one run on four hits in four innings of work. He struck out five and also helped himself at the plate by singling and scoring on Phil Gosselin's triple in the Pirates' five-run third. Glasnow is competing for the final spot in Pittsburgh's rotation.
"I think today felt more like a normal game. Went out and the game plan was just go treat it like a normal game," said Glasnow, who was coming off a rough outing against the Braves on Monday. "It was fun getting back out there."
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Jaso's home run put Pittsburgh up 11-1 in the sixth, but Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco, who made two errors earlier in the game, gave the home crowd something to cheer about when he connected for a grand slam in the seventh. Aaron Altherr's two-run double brought the Phillies within five in the ninth before Brock Stassi struck out to end the game.
Hellickson was charged with eight runs, six earned, in five innings. He gave up nine hits including two doubles, a triple and Perez's homer. He also walked one and hit a batter.
"That [third] inning had everything. It was good to stay out there a little bit and pitch tired," said Hellickson, who threw 87 pitches. "You don't want to do it giving up runs, that's for sure. But I felt good. They hit some good pitches, and I left some pitches up. I've just got to figure out a way to limit the damage."
Said Phillies manager Pete Mackanin: "That wasn't fun. You always have one or two of those games in the spring, and this was one of them."
Phillies leadoff hitter Cesar Hernandez reached base three times on two singles and a walk.
Pirates Up Next: Opening Day starter Gerrit Cole will be on the mound for the Pirates when they host the Blue Jays at LECOM Park at 1:05 p.m. ET on Sunday. Most of Pittsburgh's projected Opening Day bullpen -- Tony Watson, Daniel Hudson, Antonio Bastardo and Jared Hughes -- is scheduled to pitch after Cole. The game will air on a free, exclusive audio webcast on pirates.com.
Phillies Up Next: The Phillies will travel to Charlotte Sports Park to play the Rays in a 1:05 p.m. ET game on Sunday. Right-hander Jerad Eickhoff (1-1, 4.85) will get the start with Cesar Ramos, Pat Venditte and Colton Murray also available to pitch. Non-roster invitees Chris Coghlan and Daniel Nava, who could be competing for the final outfield opening, will both be in the lineup. Coghlan will try to show his versatility by playing third base after Nava started at first on Saturday. Watch on MLB.TV and listen on Gameday Audio.
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