Pirates fall, 2-1, to Phillies

Kyle McPherson pitched five scoreless innings, striking out one and walking none, but the Pirates lost 2-1 to the Phillies in Clearwater Thursday afternoon. Andy Oliver allowed a leadoff walk to Michael Young in the sixth, and Young came around to score on a single and a sacrifice fly. The Pirates got their only run in the seventh when Neil Walker singled, moved to second on a hit by pitch and third on a fly ball, and came home on a wild pitch by Phillippe Aumont.

In the eighth, though, Mike Zagurski allowed his first run of the spring, on a homer by Pete Orr. The Pirates rallied in the ninth with a two-out single by Ivan DeJesus and a double by Brett Carroll, but Felix Pie struck out to end it.