Osuna extends red-hot start

During the offseason, Pittsburgh placed first baseman Jose Osuna on the 40-man roster to keep from losing him.

Osuna is rewarding that faith early in spring training. During the Pirates’ 11-1 victory Thursday against Detroit at Publix Field in Lakeland, Osuna went 2 for 3 with a double and a home run. Through five games, Osuna is 6 for 11, including two homers.

“It’s been fun to watch him develop over the years,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “Our player development people speak very highly of him.”

In 2016, his seventh season in the organization, Osuna split time between Triple A Indianapolis and Double A Altoona.

Osuna’s homer was one of four hit by the Pirates on Thursday. Jordy Mercer’s grand slam and Adam Frazier’s two-run shot powered the seven-run third. Francisco Cervelli led off the second with the other, the first hit off Detroit starter Justin Verlander.

Steven Brault (1-0) gave up one run on three hits in two innings for the win. He threw 19 of his 26 pitches for strikes. The Tigers scored their run off Brault on Justin Upton’s first home run of the season. The outing was Brault’s second of the spring. The left-hander is trying to earn one of the three spots in the rotation that will be filled by someone who didn’t head north with the club last year.

Trevor Williams, Tyler Webb and Tyler Eppler also worked two inings each.

Notes: Today’s scheduled start by Gerrit Cole is the first of the spring for the starter who has already been pencilled in as the Pirates opening day starter next month.

This story was originally published March 2, 2017 at 6:23 PM with the headline "Osuna extends red-hot start."