Pirates fall to Rays in B game as Bradenton's Mike Suchy rips HR

Tampa Bay 5, Pittsburgh 1

Record:

Key inning: Desmond Jennings gave the Rays the only runs they needed with a two-run homer in the fourth, which was his first home run of the spring.

Pirates big bat: Southeast grad Mike Suchy hit his first homer of the spring in eighth to account for the Pirates only run.

What manager Clint Hurdle said (on Suchy): "Today we had a B game and we decided to bring some people up. Suchy has been doing some drill work with us and we got him on the field today. It's got to be a big kick for him. I take none of this for granted. When a kid comes up and throws his bat on the ball and hits a homerun I am just as gassed for him as his folks."

Pirate starter watch: In making his second start of the spring Francisco Liriano went 3 innings. He allowed five hits, two earned runs, a walk and struck out three. His one bad pitch was hit for a two-run homer by Desmond Jennings.

In his words: "The man thing today was to work on my delivery. If I get that right everything else will fall into place because then I can hit my spots. On the homer I missed my spot. I am just trying to get ready for the season and get everything going."

PROSPECT SPOTLIGHT

Mike Suchy

Hometown: Bradenton

Resides: Bradenton, Florida

Drafted: Fifth round (161st overall pick) 2014 draft.

HS: Southeast, Bradenton

2015 team/level: West Virginia/South Atlantic League/A

What he did Wednesday: Hit solo homer of Adam Wilk in only plate appearance. Played four innings in right field.

What he did last year: Hit .275 with 10 homers and 76 RBIs

This story was originally published March 10, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Pirates fall to Rays in B game as Bradenton's Mike Suchy rips HR."