Pirates News

Lincoln Improves Chances, but Bucs Drop Pair

By Paul Ladewski

POSTED: March 8, 2010

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PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. Pirates pitcher Brad Lincoln entered spring training as the darkhorse candidate for the fifth spot in the rotation, but after a second consecutive respectable performance on Monday afternoon, he may be ready to move up in class.

In a 4-3 loss in 10 innings against the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park, Lincoln allowed one run and two hits in two innings. One of the 10 batters that he faced hit the ball hard.

"I don't know what (team management) is thinking," Lincoln said of the No. 5 position. "Nobody has told me anything. But I go out there every day thinking that I have a chance and I'll represent myself that way. I'll work my butt off every day to let them know that I'm here to make the squad. I'm to here to make my presence felt."

The news was nearly as positive in Bradenton, where a split squad managed only one hit against the New York Yankees in a 6-0 setback.

The Pirates (2-4-1) had only one baserunner advance as far as second base. The first 13 batters went down in order before first baseman Steve Pearce singled in the fifth inning.

"I was able to keep the ball down, and when I missed, it was down," said Lincoln, who said that he felt looser in the more seasonable 71-degree weather at game time. "I had some control issues, and the result were the walks. I have to limit those. I'm pretty good at that, but today I got away from it. I'm got caught up in the moment a bit too much, but I limited the damage."

The only blemish was three walks, the first of which led to a run.

"Other than that, I felt good out there," Lincoln said. "I felt energized. I'm happy where I'm at."

"Lincoln threw the ball well," manager John Russell said. "He got over his first-inning jitters. He did a great job to give up only the one (run). He settled down."

At this stage, Lincoln said his primary focus was on development more than destination. In particular, he has worked to improve his change-up, which he threw three times, two of them for strikes.

"If it happens that way, it happens," Lincoln said of a spot on the major league roster. "If not, I'll go back to (Triple A) Indianapolis, work on things and hopefully be in Pittsburgh soon."

Second baseman Brian Friday hit the only home run of the game, a solo shot over the left-center field fence.

Veteran Jack Taschner one took another step toward a bullpen job with one inning of scoreless relief. The left-hander has yet to be scored upon in three innings this spring.

"He has done well," Russell said. "He has gotten lefties out, and he has thrown the ball well against righties. He's definitely in the mix. We have some good options there."

Relievers Brian Bass and Jeff Karstens pitched two scoreless innings each.

At McKechnie Field, the Yankees plated two runs against starter Paul Maholm in the first inning and coasted the rest of the way.

"I didn't do myself any favors by falling behind almost every guy that came up there in the first," Maholm said. "I made some decent pitches, and the balls that were hit were just grounders up the middle. But I went back out and found my rhythm a little bit better and had a quicker (second) inning."

Maholm didn't get the benefit of the doubt on a few close pitches, one on which third baseman Alex Rodriguez would have struck out. Instead, Rodriguez singled to plate a pair of runs.

"That's part of (the game)," Maholm said. "They put together good at-bats no matter what part of the season. It's good to have an inning where you have to battle and work on things and use all your pitches.

Relievers Steven Jackson, Javier Lopez and Justin Thomas pitched one scoreless inning apiece.

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