Duke, Wilson lead Bucs past Rays

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates are trying to copy the Tampa Bay Rays’ formula for going from bad to good in a short time. For at least one day, they figured out how to play the Rays’ game.

Zach Duke pitched five shutout innings and Jack Wilson’s two doubles led to a pair of two-run innings created in part by their baserunning, helping the Pirates beat the Rays 4-1 on Monday.

Duke gave the Pirates their second strong start in three days, following up Paul Maholm’s six shutout innings against Cincinnati on Saturday by limiting Tampa Bay to two hits — lowering his ERA to 1.83. Duke has allowed only three earned runs in 18 2/3 innings this spring.

The Pirates badly need Duke to again resemble the pitcher who was 8-2 with a 1.81 ERA as a rookie in 2005. He is 18-37 since that season and, so far this spring, providing hope that he might be able to bounce back.

“I think he’s got a different outlook on what he’s doing and his confidence level is showing, too,” manager John Russell said. “He’s able to execute pitches and he’s using both sides of the plate. He’s been very consistent and he’s on a very good track right now of being ready for the season.”

Eric Hinske, the former Rays outfielder, got the Pirates’ two-run second going against Jason Hammel by turning a double into the right-center gap into a triple, a baserunning gamble that allowed him to score on Brandon Moss’ grounder. Duke, batting for the first time this spring, followed with a double and scored on Wilson’s double.

The Pirates also stole three bases, two by leadoff hitter Nyjer Morgan and one by Steve Pearce.

“You’ve got to take your opportunities when you can get them,” Russell said. “We got thrown out early in camp, but we still wanted to be very aggressive, and now we’ve kind of got it balanced out.”