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Pirates unable to feed off Bedard’s outing
Associated Press
BRADENTON, Fla.
Erik Bedard’s attitude was the same even though his line was much better.
Bedard pitched thhe Minnesota Twins on Saturday.
“I didn’t work on anything specific,” Bedard said after allowing one hit. “Just trying to get all my pitches in the strike zone and get my arm strength.”
The Twins finally broke out of a prolonged slump after Bedard left.
Danny Valencia had two of the Twins’ six hits. He doubled and scored in the fifth inning and hit a three-run homer in the sixth.
It was the first time in six games that the Twins had an extra-base hit. On Friday, they snapped a run of 27 scoreless innings by getting a pair of bases-loaded walks.
Twins starter Terry Doyle went 22/3 innings and allowed two runs on seven hits and a walk. The right-hander left the game with the Twins trailing, 2-0.
“I think the problem today was that I felt too good,” Doyle said. “I felt so good I was overthrowing a little bit, couldn’t get the ball down in the zone and didn’t get good sink on my fastball. I tried to take it light this week throwing bullpens so I would feel good. I’ve got to find that good balance of getting my work in and not being tired and not doing anything so I’m too fresh.”
Doyle was a Rule 5 draft pick in December and must be offered back to the Chicago White Sox if he doesn’t make the Twins’ roster. He split last season between Class-A and Double-A.
“The spot that I’m in, I can’t do anything about it except go out and pitch,” Doyle said. “Hopefully, that will be good enough for me to make the club.”
The Twins also played a “B” game Saturday, but manager Ron Gardenhire wanted Doyle to face the Pirates’ everyday players.
“It was a good experience for me to face a full lineup of major league hitters,” Doyle said. “I got my pitch count up, which is one of the pluses I can take out of it.”
The Pirates had 11 hits, the sixth game in a row that they have reached double digits. Nate McLouth went 2 for 2 and Casey McGehee went 3 for 3 with one RBI.