Top five

Garrett Jones likes the Dutch.
A non-roster invitee, Jones has knocked in three runs for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who lead the Netherlands 4-2 after four innings.
With the Pirates lineup sans stars - Ruben Gotay, who started in left field, is a minor-league camper, doesn't have a name on the back of his jersey - Jones is taking advantage of his playing time.
As is Andy Phillips, who doubled in a run, and Craig Monroe, who walked and doubled in his first two at-bats.
And as a write, shortsop Anderson Machado makes a wild, off-balance throw to first that skips past Phillips and plates a run. The Netherlands now trails 4-3.

Netherlands Game

Here come the Dutch!

This is John Lembo, sports writer with The Bradenton Herald, and today should prove interesting at McKechnie Field, where the Pittsburgh Pirates play host to the Netherlands team competing in the World Baseball Classic.

Here are the lineups, and yes, they are some familiar faces for the Netherlands squad:
Eugene Kingsale, rf
Sharlon Shoop, 2b
Randall Simon, 1b
Greg Halman, cf
Sharnol Adriana, dh
Yurendell DeCaster, 3b
Brian Englehardt, lf
Kenley Jansen, c
Hainley Statia, ss
Sidney Ponson, p

Sir Sidney toes the rubber, under the tutelage of pitching coach Burt Blyleven. Simon is a former Pirate perhaps best known for whacking a sausage with a bat during Miller Park's famed Sausage Race. And Kingsale played with the Orioles, Mariners, Padres and Tigers.

Pirates:
Anderson Machado, ss
Luis Cruz, 2b
Craig Monroe, dh
Garrett Jones, rf
Pedro Alvarez, 3b
Andy Phillips, 1b
Jeff Salazar, cf
Ruben Gotay, lf
Erik Kratz, c
Ross Ohlendorf, p

FYI - Kratz holds the record for most career doubles in the history of Division III. And Alvarez is the team's first round draft pick getting plenty of looks this spring. Let's see how he handles third.

They win AGAIN!

Almost saw a triple play today...but what we did see was ANOTHER Pirate win, as the Buccos beat the Reds 2-1 at refrigerated McKechnie Field to improve to 5-1.
Andrew McCutchen had a fine day - he made a nice play on a windblown fly ball hit to left, gunned down the Reds' Paul Janish trying to tag up from third in the seventh, got his first hit of the spring and scored the winning run on Andy Phillips' single in the eighth.

The Pirates return to McKechnie tomorrow to face the Netherlands. Not the all country, but the World Baseball Classic recipient.

Hopefully, they'll bring better weather from Pirate City, where they spent the spring working out.

So long for today. John Lembo, signing out.

Sixth Inning

The Reds own a commanding 1-0 lead over the Pirates, who have just one hit through five full innings of play.

Some good news for the Buccos - Zach Duke threw two scorless innings. That means Duke, Ian Snell, Tom Gorzelanny and Paul Maholm have a 0.00 ERA through eight innings this spring.

Not too shabby.

Catcher Jason Jaramillo, looking to earn a spot on the roster as Ryan Doumit's back up,just threw out Chris Valaika trying to steal second.

Hey man - when it's 1-0, and the crowd is dead, the air is chilled and the Pirates and Reds are playing the first of 150 games this spring, that is as exciting as it gets.

Pirates vs. Reds

Oh, it's a cold one here at McKechnie Field. The press box shutters are drawn in an attempt to keep warm, and one of the Pittsburgh beat writers remembered to bring his yellow and black Steelers knit cap.
But seeing as how the northeastern part of the country has been battered by nearly a foot of snow, we really have no room to complain.
So this is John Lembo, sports writer with The Bradenton Herald, and I will be blogging from today's Grapefruit League game between the Pirates and the Reds.
Let's look at the lineups:

Reds:
Chris Dickerson, cf
Jeff Keppinger, ss
Jay Bruce, rf
Brandon Phillips, 2b
Edwin Encarnacion, 3b
Jonny Gomes, 1b
Lance Nix, lf
Ryan Hanigan, C
Wes Bankston, dh
Homer Bailey, p

Yes, that's right - Jonny Gomes, formerly the unofficial mascot of the Tampa Bay Rays, is playing first for the Reds. Wonder what kind of reception he will get...

Pirates
Andrew McCutchen, lf
Freddy Sanchez, 2b
Nate McLouth, cf
Ryan Doumit, dh
Adam LaRoche, 1b
Brandon Moss, rf
Neil Walker, 3b
Jack Wilson, ss
Jason Jaramillo, c
Zach Duke, p

Little different look, with Doumit DHing and Jaramillo, looking to land a job as the team's No.2 catcher, squatting behind the plate. McCutchen and Walker make two Pirate first-round picks in the same lineup.

The Lineups

Starting to clear up at McKechine. May as well give ya the lineups:

The Tigers:
Curtis Granderson, cf
Placido Polanco, 2b
Gary Sheffield, dh
Brent Clevlen, lf
Mike Hessman, 1b
Ryan Raburn, rf
Brandon Inge, 3b
Matt Treanor, c
Adam Everett, ss
Justin Verlander, p

Former Pirate skipper Jim Leyland brought a nice group for Lakeland. Good thing, too - this is the only meeting this spring between the two clubs.

The Pirates
Nyjer Morgan, lf
Freddy Sanchez, 2b
Nate McLouth, cf
Ryan Doumit, c
Craig Monroe, rf
Ramon Vazquez, dh
Andy LaRoche, 3b
Garrett Jones, 1b
Jack Wilson, ss
Jimmy Barthameir, p

Andy LaRoche, who has battled back spasms this spring, gets the nod today - though his brother, Adam, gets the day off. Monroe is looking to make the Opening Day roster, and gets a shock to up his stock against his old team.

It's a wet one

McKechnie Field is covered by tarp, and most of the Pittsburgh Pirates are lounging in the clubhouse.
I'm John Lembo, sports writer with The Bradenton Herald, and I will be here on this cold, rainy and windy Sunday as the Pirates are set to host the Detroit Tigers at 1:05.
Justin Verlander is throwing for Detroit aginst the Pirates' Jimmy Barthmaeir.
The game is still a go, and according to weather.com, the rain should be out of here some time after 11 a.m.
OK, so this is not a perfect day for baseball. But if you haven't boxed up all your heavier clothing, throw some on and head to the ballpark.
I have a hunch good seats will be easy to find.