TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Pittsburgh’s Joe Musgrove allowed two runs, one hit, three walks and five strikeouts over 2 2/3 innings in a 9-5 loss to the New York Yankees on Thursday.
”I was super-excited to get out there,” Musgrove said. ”It’s my first taste of a live-action game and it feels good.”
Slowed by right shoulder discomfort, Musgrove worked two innings in a minor league camp game Friday. He reached 94 mph with his fastball Thursday.
”I worked hard this offseason,” Musgrove said. ”I’ve had a lot of extra time this spring to prepare and strengthen my shoulder. Just try to build on it. The arm strength and stuff feels like it is there.”
Acquired from Houston in the trade that sent Gerrit Cole to the Astros, Musgrove is optimistic about being ready to start the regular season on time.
”Making an opening-day roster is important to me, especially being on a new team,” Musgrove said. ”If things continue to progress the way they have, there’s a good chance I can be there. If I need to take a step back and slow things down a bit, I’ll do that as well. But with where we’re at now, I don’t see any reason why I wouldn’t be there opening day,”
Aaron Judge had an RBI double to deep center in the first off Musgrove, who threw 33 of 54 pitches for strikes
Musgrove got the win out of the bullpen in Game 5 of the World Series for Houston last year, and spent Monday at the White House with the World Series champions Astros. Musgrove went 7-8 with a 4.77 ERA in 38 games, including 15 starts in 2017.
Notes: Closer Felipe Rivero allowed four unearned runs in one-third of an inning. The left-hander walked three. … The Pirates sent INFs Kevin Kramer and Kevin Newman, and RHPs Yeudy Garcia and Alex McRae to their minor league camp.
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