Worth noting

By Tom Singer

March 15, 2014

• Charlie Morton, who has been sharp in Grapefruit League action (one earned run in eight innings), was equally effective in stretching out to five innings in a Minor League game at Pirate City. Morton allowed three hits and a run, with one walk and four strikeouts, to Yankees Triple-A players.

• Also working in Pirate City, Mark Melancon started against the Yanks' Double-A club and gave up two hits and a run in one inning. The significance for Melancon was that he pitched on consecutive days for the first time this spring; he had gone an inning in Friday's game against Philadelphia.

• Saturday's sellout was the Pirates' fourth of the spring out of the nine games at McKechnie Field.

• Jeff Locke threw a bullpen session on Saturday, again testing his sore right side. The key will be how he feels the morning after.

Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog Change for a Nickel. He can also be found on Twitter @Tom_Singer.