ASTROS BEAT THE PIRATES IN A SLUGFEST

HOUSTON 12, PITTSBURGH 9

WHEN: 8:10 PM ET, Monday, March 25, 2019
WHERE: Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas
TEMPERATURE: 73°
UMPIRES: Home - Pat Hoberg, 1B - Adrian Johnson, 2B - Nick Mahrley, 3B - Shane Livensparger
ATTENDANCE: 18811

The Pirates will play three Interleague games in Houston nearly three months from now, but it probably won't take Jameson Taillon that long to start checking the schedule to gauge his chances of pitching during that series.

Taillon was raised in The Woodlands, a suburb north of Houston, and was an Astros fan from the beginning. He has warm, vivid memories of attending Astros games at Minute Maid Park as a wee lad in the early 2000s, and he credits those teams with inspiring him to want to play baseball.

The fandom continued into his teens. Like most high schoolers on a budget, he and his buddies bought tickets for the cheap seats, near the top of the ballpark.

These days, Taillon has a slightly better vantage point at Minute Maid Park, from the visitor's dugout on the third-base side. As the Pirates' Opening Day starter, Taillon won't pitch in the current two-game exhibition series with the Astros, but that's OK with him. Just being here is enough.

The next time the Bucs roll through town is of greater interest to the 27-year-old righty. The Pirates will be in Houston June 25-27, and Taillon's eyes lit up at the idea of starting one of those games.

But he's not checking the schedule just yet.

DECISIONS LOOMING

The Pirates still have to trim their roster by several players between now and Thursday, but they left Minute Maid Park after Monday's 12-9 loss to the Astros without making any roster moves.

One of the decisions they'll have to make soon is regarding the fifth starter job. Manager Clint Hurdle said they'll "pull the trigger on that sooner than later, and everybody will know."

Jordan Lyles appears to have an inside track for that final rotation spot, though Nick Kingham and Steven Brault are still in the mix, as well.

If Lyles does win the job, the Pirates will then have to decide who to bump to the bullpen. Kingham may have the advantage because he does not have options remaining on his contract, and cannot be sent to the Minor Leagues without exposure to waivers. Brault has options remaining on his contract.

CHISENHALL PLUNKED

Outfielder Lonnie Chisenhall exited Monday’s game in the sixth inning, after he was plunked on his right hand by a pitch from Astros lefty reliever Framber Valdez. Chisenhall was replaced by Bryan Reynolds to run at first base.

Per a team spokesman, Chisenhall is currently being examined and treated by the medical staff. Further updates will be provided as they are made available.

NOTABLES

• Infielder José Osuna’s chances to make the Opening Day roster diminished on Monday with the news that he did not make the trip to Houston due to lower neck discomfort. Osuna will return to Pittsburgh this week for further examination.

INNING					PIT	HOU
Pirates		1st		Marte doubled to deep right, Frazier scored on error by center fielder Kemp.	1	0
Pirates			1st	Cervelli homered to left (405 feet), Bell scored.	3	0
Astros			3rd	Springer grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Díaz scored, Kemp out at second, Chirinos to third.	3	1
Astros			3rd	Bregman grounded out to third, Chirinos scored, Altuve to second, Springer to third.	3	2
Astros			3rd	Brantley singled to left, Springer scored and Altuve scored.	3	4
Astros			3rd	White homered to left (382 feet), Brantley scored and Gurriel scored.	3	7
Pirates			6th	Cabrera singled to center, Kang scored, Reynolds to second.	4	7
Pirates			6th	Frazier doubled to deep left, Reynolds scored and Cabrera scored, González to third.	6	7
Pirates			6th	Marte hit sacrifice fly to center, González scored, Frazier to third.	7	7
Pirates			6th	Dickerson singled to right, Frazier scored.	8	7
Astros			6th	Tanielu homered to left (394 feet), Straw scored and Marisnick scored.	8	10
Astros			7th	Stubbs homered to right (343 feet).	8	11
Astros			7th	Straw homered to left (390 feet).	8	12
Pirates			8th	P. Reyes hit sacrifice fly to right, Newman scored.	9	12

• Joe Musgrove, who is slated to make his regular season debut on Sunday (March 31) in Cincinnati, threw 80 pitches over six innings -- and an extra 15 pitches in the bullpen -- in a Minor League outing in Florida on Monday. Chris Archer, who will start April 1 in the home opener against the Cardinals, will start in a Minor League game Tuesday.

• Monday's exhibition game in Houston marked Starling Marte's first appearance since he was sidelined with lower back tightness on March 19. Marte was 1-for-3, doubling in his first at-bat.

BIG INNINGS

Pittsburgh's three-run first started with Adam Frazier scoring on Starling Marte's double before Cervelli's home run. The Pirates added a five-run sixth on RBI singles by Melky Cabrera and Corey Dickerson sandwiched around a two-run double by Frazier and Marte's sacrifice fly.

Houston scored seven in the third. George Springer and Alex Bregman had RBI groundouts before Michael Brantley's two-run single and Tyler White's three-run homer. Nick Tanielu added a three-run homer in the sixth. Garrett Stubbs and Myles Straw hit consecutive solo home runs in the seventh.

JAMES' OUTING

Houston right-hander Josh James gave up one run and three hits in the eighth. James, slowed early by a strained right quadriceps, allowed only that one run in four spring outings.

UP NEXT

The Pirates will wrap up their Spring Training, and their two-game exhibition set with the Astros, on Tuesday at 2:10 ET at Minute Maid Park. Right-handed reliever Brandon Maurer gets the start for the Bucs, who will then travel to Cincinnati in advance of Opening Day on Thursday. The Astros will start prospect J.B. Bukauskas.

SCORING SUMMARY

FINAL SCORING SUMMARY

FINAL	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
PITTSBURGH	3	0	0	0	0	5	0	1	0	9	14	0
HOUSTON	0	0	7	0	0	3	2	0	-	12	11	1

PITTSBURGH

Hitters	Pos	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	LOB	Avg
Adam Frazier	2B	4	2	2	2	0	1	0	.342
Pablo Reyes	2B	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	.308
Starling Marte	CF	3	0	1	1	0	2	0	.276
J.B. Shuck	CF	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	.357
Corey Dickerson	LF	4	0	1	1	0	0	1	.375
Patrick Kivlehan	LF	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	.240
Josh Bell	1B	4	1	1	0	0	0	1	.204
Colin Moran	1B	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.222
Francisco Cervelli	C	3	1	2	2	0	0	0	.286
Steven Baron	PH-C	2	0	1	0	0	1	2	.250
Jung Ho Kang	3B	2	1	1	0	2	0	0	.250
Ke'Bryan Hayes	3B	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	.344
Lonnie Chisenhall	RF	2	0	1	0	0	0	2	.206
Bryan Reynolds	PR-RF	2	1	0	0	0	0	1	.300
Melky Cabrera	DH	4	1	1	1	0	2	2	.280
Erik Gonzalez	SS	2	1	0	0	1	0	0	.214
Kevin Newman	SS	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	.225
Totals		37	9	14	8	3	7	11
Batting
2B - Adam Frazier (3), Starling Marte (4), J.B. Shuck (2)
3B - Kevin Newman (1)
HR - Francisco Cervelli (4)
TB - Adam Frazier 3, Starling Marte 2, J.B. Shuck 2, Corey Dickerson, Patrick Kivlehan, Josh Bell, Francisco Cervelli 5, Steven Baron, Jung Ho Kang, Lonnie Chisenhall, Melky Cabrera, Kevin Newman 3
RBI - Adam Frazier 2 (8), Pablo Reyes (7), Starling Marte (9), Corey Dickerson (8), Francisco Cervelli 2 (6), Melky Cabrera (3)
2-Out RBI - Corey Dickerson (6), Francisco Cervelli 2 (3)
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - Steven Baron (1), Lonnie Chisenhall (6), Melky Cabrera (7)
SF - Pablo Reyes (1), Starling Marte (1)
GIDP - Bryan Reynolds (1)
Team LOB - 7
Fielding
PB - Francisco Cervelli (1)

Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	ERA
Richard Rodriguez	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1.23
Felipe Vazquez	1.0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0.00
Keone Kela	0.1	1	4	4	3	0	0	11.37
Geoff Hartlieb	0.2	3	3	3	0	0	1	5.91
Nick Burdi	0.2	1	0	0	3	0	0	1.80
Brandon Waddell	0.1	0	0	0	0	0	0	4.05
Francisco Liriano	1.0	2	0	0	0	0	0	4.22
Alex McRae (L 0-1; BS 1)	3.0	4	5	5	2	1	3	9.39
HBP - Abraham Toro (by McRae)
Pitches-Strikes - Richard Rodriguez 13-10, Felipe Vazquez 11-7, Keone Kela 21-8, Geoff Hartlieb 10-8, Nick Burdi 24-10, Brandon Waddell 2-2, Francisco Liriano 13-9, Alex McRae 57-29
Ground Balls-Fly Balls - Richard Rodriguez 0-0, Felipe Vazquez 0-1, Keone Kela 1-0, Geoff Hartlieb 2-0, Nick Burdi 1-0, Brandon Waddell 0-1, Francisco Liriano 1-1, Alex McRae 6-0
Batters Faced - Richard Rodriguez 3, Felipe Vazquez 3, Keone Kela 5, Geoff Hartlieb 5, Nick Burdi 5, Brandon Waddell 1, Francisco Liriano 4, Alex McRae 16
Inherited Runners-Scored - Geoff Hartlieb 3-3, Brandon Waddell 3-0

HOUSTON

HITTERS	POS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	LOB	AVG
George Springer	RF	3	1	0	1	0	1	4	.244
Jake Marisnick	RF-CF	0	1	0	0	2	0	0	.316
Jose Altuve	2B	1	1	0	0	2	0	0	.269
Nick Tanielu	2B	2	1	1	3	0	0	1	.347
Alex Bregman	3B	2	0	0	1	1	0	2	.345
Jack Mayfield	3B	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	.205
Michael Brantley	LF	3	1	1	2	0	1	3	.293
Yordan Alvarez	LF	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	.271
Yuli Gurriel	1B	4	1	2	0	0	0	0	.372
Abraham Toro	1B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.341
Tyler White	DH	3	1	2	3	0	1	0	.234
Max Stassi	PH-DH	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	.214
Aledmys Diaz	SS	4	1	1	0	0	0	2	.160
Alex De Goti	SS	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.206
Robinson Chirinos	C	2	1	1	0	1	0	1	.324
Garrett Stubbs	C	1	1	1	1	0	0	0	.364
Tony Kemp	CF	1	0	1	0	2	0	0	.350
Myles Straw	PR-RF	1	2	1	1	0	0	0	.378
Totals		33	12	11	12	8	4	14
Batting
2B - Tony Kemp (3)
HR - Nick Tanielu (5), Tyler White (2), Garrett Stubbs (3), Myles Straw (1)
TB - Nick Tanielu 4, Michael Brantley, Yuli Gurriel 2, Tyler White 5, Aledmys Diaz, Robinson Chirinos, Garrett Stubbs 4, Tony Kemp 2, Myles Straw 4
RBI - George Springer (5), Nick Tanielu 3 (18), Alex Bregman (7), Michael Brantley 2 (6), Tyler White 3 (7), Garrett Stubbs (4), Myles Straw (2)
2-Out RBI - Michael Brantley 2 (3), Tyler White 3 (6), Garrett Stubbs (1), Myles Straw (2)
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - Michael Brantley 2 (6), Robinson Chirinos (8)
GIDP - George Springer (3), Aledmys Diaz (1)
Team LOB - 6
Baserunning
SB - George Springer (4, 2nd off Kela/Cervelli)
Fielding
E - Tony Kemp (1)
Outfield Assists - Yordan Alvarez (Shuck at Home)

Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	ERA
Forrest Whitley	3.0	6	3	3	1	2	1	3.00
Will Harris	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	6.23
Framber Valdez	1.2	3	5	5	2	1	0	5.82
Reymin Guduan (W 2-0)	1.1	1	0	0	0	2	0	1.64
Josh James	1.0	3	1	1	0	0	0	2.08
Brendan McCurry (SV 1)	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0.82
HBP - Lonnie Chisenhall (by Valdez)
Pitches-Strikes - Forrest Whitley 67-43, Will Harris 11-7, Framber Valdez 36-21, Reymin Guduan 20-14, Josh James 14-9, Brendan McCurry 11-7
Ground Balls-Fly Balls - Forrest Whitley 5-1, Will Harris 0-1, Framber Valdez 2-0, Reymin Guduan 2-0, Josh James 0-1, Brendan McCurry 1-0
Batters Faced - Forrest Whitley 16, Will Harris 3, Framber Valdez 11, Reymin Guduan 5, Josh James 5, Brendan McCurry 3
Inherited Runners-Scored - Reymin Guduan 1-0