Football
Associated Press 18y

Pirates (ss) 5, Reds (ss) 0

SARASOTA, Fla. - Sean Casey was hit in the helmet by a pitch during the Pittsburgh Pirates' 5-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in a split-squad game Wednesday but came away only with minor swelling above his right eye.

Facing his former team for the first time since he was traded last December, Casey renewed friendships on the field before the game and got a nice ovation from the crowd before his first at-bat, which ended with a routine fly out.

In the third inning, left-hander Michael Gosling hit Casey in the helmet. The first baseman lay on the ground for several seconds, then got up and went to first base. He left the game as a precaution after the inning.

"Yeah, I thought I had some friends over here," Casey joked. "But, hey, that's baseball. It happens. The ball got away from him. That's the way it goes. You take that risk every time you get in the batter's box."

Gosling, trying to impress the Reds in case they need a fill-in while Paul Wilson recovers from shoulder surgery, covered his head after hitting Casey. After the inning, Casey approached Gosling to let him know he had no problem with the pitch.

"I told him, 'It's all right," Casey said. "Obviously, he's coming in tight on a 2-0 pitch, and the ball just sailed on him."

Gosling pitched three scoreless innings, but was upset with his control and the pitch that hit Casey.

"I felt really bad," Gosling said. "I know what he means to Cincinnati. He is the worst person you could hit. I was really glad to see him get up and run to first base."

Craig Stansberry hit a three-run home run off Cincinnati's Josh Hall, who missed last season following shoulder surgery. Tom Gorzelanny, Marty McLeary and Scott Strickland each threw three scoreless innings for the Pirates.

"We're playing real well," Pittsburgh manager Jim Tracy said. "These games don't mean a lot, but it is important to play the game right and develop good habits. I told our guys to remember how it feels to play the game right."

Notes: Reds LHP Eric Milton, who re-injured his calf backing up a play at home Tuesday, played catch on Wednesday and will throw again Thursday. He is backing off his running regiment. ... The Reds will decide after Milton throws Thursday whether he'll have to miss another start.

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