Konnor Griffin and Jhostynxon Garcia each homered and Garcia and Jared Triolo both had two hits as the Pirates won their fourth straight game, 6-1, over the Cardinals in Jupiter, Florida. Rookie lefthander Hunter Barco started and went three shutout, no-hit innings, walking two and striking out three.
Non-roster invitee Mike Clevinger gets the start for the Pirates today in Bradenton against Tampa Bay.
Paul Skenes and his Pirates teammates playing in the World Baseball Classic joined their respective nations’ teams yesterday. For Skenes, that meant a trip to Houston to join his fellow Team USA members. He will make one exhibition start and then two more in the tournament, if Team USA advances. They will play in Scottsdale, Arizona tomorrow against the San Francisco Giants and Wednesday against Colorado, then they will open pool play against Brazil in Houston.
