Home runs power Bucs to victory
BRADENTON, Fla. – Bryan Reynolds, Jared Triolo and Gilberto Celestino homered as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 12-8 Friday afternoon.
Tampa Bay struck for three runs in the first inning off of starter Mitch Keller on a pair of run-scoring hits and a sacrifice fly.
Reynolds made it 3-1 with a long solo home run to left field in the bottom of the first inning. It was Reynolds’ second home run of the spring.
Triolo connected on a three-run home run to left field to put the Pirates ahead 4-3 in the second inning.
Celestino smacked a grand slam to left field to put the Pirates ahead 12-5 in the seventh. Celestino went 2-for-2 with five RBI.
Keller (1-0) pitched two innings, giving up four hits and three runs. He struck out two. Free-agent signee Wily Peralta followed with two scoreless innings.
Hardol Ramirez had two hits for the Rays, who outhit the Pirates, 12-8. The Rays scored three runs off of Sean Sullivan in the ninth.