Meadows homers as Pirates defeats Blue Jays
BRADENTON, Fla. – Top prospect Austin Meadows hit a two-run homer for Pittsburgh and Sean Rodriguez added a solo shot as the Pirates defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1 Thursday.
Pirates closer Felipe Rivero pitched the fourth inning and allowed a hit with two strikeouts in his first spring appearance. Kevin Pillar got three hits for Toronto.
Pillar opened the scoring for the Blue Jays (2-5) with an RBI single in the top of the second, but the Pirates (1-4-2) answered in the bottom of the inning with a home run off Blue Jays starter JA Happ.
Right-handed pitching prospect Nick Kingham started for the Pirates and allowed one run on three hits, two walks, and two strikeouts in three innings.
The Pirates broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning. Kevin Newman was hit by a pitch to start the inning and on an Eric Wood single.
The Pirates will play Philadelphia at 1:05 p.m. Saturday.