Pirates offense comes to life vs. Yankees

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Pirates No. 2 prospect Austin Meadows hit a two-run double, shortstop Jordy Mercer homered and Iván Nova pitched three innings against his former team as Pittsburgh beat the Yankees, 13-1, on Monday at LECOM Park.
Nova, traded from the Yankees to the Pirates before last year's Trade Deadline, allowed one run on two hits and a walk while striking out two in three innings. The only run he allowed came when he sandwiched a wild pitch, the first of two in the third inning, between two errors.
"I had a little emotion going on, facing my former team," Nova said. "Sometimes you're trying to do too much. I wasn't throwing strikes as usual, I wasn't hitting my spots. After that I kind of picked it up and threw strikes, tried to throw my pitches, tried to work on my changeup, my sinker and my curveball."
Meadows, starting in center field with the entire Pirates outfield away for the World Baseball Classic, sliced a two-run double down the left-field line off Yankees right-hander Bryan Mitchell to open the scoring. Barrett Barnes grounded out to drive in another run and put the Bucs ahead, 3-0.

After Brett Gardner scored on Nova's series of misplays, Mercer slammed his second spring homer onto the boardwalk beyond the left-field fence in the third inning to keep Pittsburgh ahead by three runs.
Mitchell, competing for a spot in the Yankees' rotation, allowed four runs on six hits and struck out two in 2 1/3 innings. He had not given up a hit or a run this spring, going into Monday.
"I think today I just made too many mistakes in the zone," Mitchell said. "I don't feel like I fell behind many guys. I didn't walk anyone. I was just in the zone maybe a little too much today."
Minor League outfielder Casey Hughston, the Pirates' third-round pick in 2015, put the game out of reach with a three-run double in Pittsburgh's seven-run seventh inning.
Yankees Up Next: Left-hander CC Sabathia will make his first start of the Grapefruit League on Tuesday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. ET (MLB.TV) against the Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla.
Pirates Up Next: Right-hander Trevor Williams and lefty Steven Brault will make another bid for a spot in the Pirates' rotation as they start against the Braves on Tuesday at LECOM Park. at 1:05 p.m. (MLB.TV). Catcher Chris Stewart is expected to make his spring debut behind the plate. Relievers Jared Hughes, Antonio Bastardo and Tyler Webb are also scheduled to pitch.
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