Pirates’ hitters impress Russell

They haven’t faced the league’s top pitchers, but they are greatly improved.

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Pitchers are supposed to be ahead of the hitters at this stage of spring training, so the Pittsburgh Pirates must be encouraged about an offense that has underproduced for years.

The Pirates, one of the NL’s weakest offenses since moving into PNC Park in 2001, are facing pitchers who will be playing for Syracuse and Lehigh Valley in a few weeks. They’re not seeing closers in the ninth inning and their own late-inning at-bats are being taken by Brian Bixler and Josh Wilson rather than Jason Bay and Jack Wilson.

Despite losing seven of their last 10 games, the Pirates are getting on base, putting up runs and hitting for power at much better rates than they did during their 68-94 season of a year ago. Then, they were 10th in the NL in average (.263) and 12th in homers (148), on-base percentage (.325) and runs (724).

In their last 19 innings, the Pirates have 20 runs and 22 hits. They’ve scored 25 runs in their last three games and have already had games with 11, 11, 8 and 13 runs.

“I’ve been really pleased with the offense — we’ve had some pretty good at-bats, we’re drawing walks, moving the ball around and, basically, every game we’ve played, we’ve given ourselves a chances,” manager John Russell said after an 8-4 loss to the Twins on Saturday.

Maybe the suspect opposing pitching is a main reason for the offensive surge, but a number of key Pirates regulars are off to strong starts.

Adam LaRoche has homered twice and is hitting .400. Freddy Sanchez isn’t ready to play the field yet because of a sore shoulder, but has a .391 average. Jack Wilson is hitting .368.

Steve Pearce, an outfield prospect who has a chance to make the Opening Day roster, has hit at every level he’s played and already has three homers and eight RBIs.

“I’m just trying to show them what I can do,” said Pearce, probably the best hitting prospect in the Pirates’ system.

The Pirates will start three pitchers who have won 14 games or more in the majors in Matt Morris, Ian Snell and Tom Gorzelanny, and the rotation figures to be their strength.

But to end their ever-growing stretch of 90-plus loss seasons — they’ve had five since 2000, plus two more seasons with 89 losses — the Pirates must upgrade their offense.

It’s only a start, but their recent surge has Russell and hitting coach Don Long encouraged with three weeks remaining before the March 31 opener in Atlanta.

The Pirates managed only six hits off what figures to be a strong Twins pitching staff on Saturday, and were 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position, but LaRoche and Ryan Doumit homered during the fourth inning.

It’s a work in progress as the Pirates players adjust to their new hitting coach, who is preaching patience at the plate so pitchers are constantly working out of hitters’ counts.

“I think the guys are taking to heart what Donnie has been telling them and what we’ve been telling them as a staff, and I’ve been pretty pleased with how they’ve been going about it,” Russell said. “We’re not overswinging a lot and working some counts. ... Guys are still getting their timing, but the overall process has been very good.”

Of course, there’s a lot of progress to make.

“But, right now, I think the progression with our hitting has been good,” Russell said.