BRADENTON, Fla. — The Boston Red Sox beat the Pirates, 6-3, on Sunday afternoon at LECOM Park in their penultimate Grapefruit League game. The Pirates led 2-1 before minor league pitching came in — Double-A lefty Jaden Woods was charged with four runs in two innings and took the loss.

Mitch Keller started for the Pirates and threw 3 2/3 innings in his final spring tuneup. Gregory Soto and Justin Lawrence both threw scoreless innings, with Soto striking out three in his frame. Jake Mangum had an RBI single, while Henry Davis hit an outside fastball from Sonny Gray over the fence in right-center for an opposite field solo home run.

Here are three of the Post-Gazette’s takeaways from the contest.

Yorke, Cook make

opening day roster

Less of a takeaway from the game but the day in general: manager Don Kelly confirmed postgame that Nick Yorke and Billy Cook have both made the opening day roster.

Both, naturally, were elated.

“It’s great,” Yorke said. “My goal this offseason was to make the team. Accomplished that, and now the new goal is to win as many games as possible. Looking to accomplish that next.”

Kelly said postgame Saturday that Yorke would be starting the season in the majors, while Alika Williams and Konnor Griffin would be sent to Triple-A Indianapolis. Kelly called Yorke after, as he was driving to dinner on Anna Maria Island.

“I was just sitting in my car on my way to dinner just like, ‘12-year-old Nick would be going crazy right now,’ ” Yorke said. “It’s been a long journey. Really excited to be here and show Pittsburgh what I can do.”

Yorke can fill multiple roles for the Pirates, playing three infield spots and corner outfield roles. Kelly said Cook’s defense was a plus, both in the outfield and as an option at first base, and said he could be a late game defensive replacement or a pinch-runner if needed.

Cook found out Sunday morning, before the game. Kelly and hitting coach Matt Hague pulled him into an office and told him some meetings were hard, but this one wasn’t going to be. They then congratulated him, unable to hide smiles.

“It means everything,” Cook said. “You work to make the big leagues, but once you make it, you work to stay. This will be my first opening day. I’m so excited to be a part of a great team. I’ve loved everything that has gone on in spring with everybody. I’m just excited to be a part of it and help in any way that I can.”

Making it sweeter for Cook and Yorke is that the two lived together during spring training.

“Getting traded at the same time, we’ve kind of had a very similar journey through the minors,” Cook said. “It’s been fun.”

Kelly announces

infield alignment

The Pirates started Nick Gonzales at third base and Jared Triolo at shortstop on Sunday, a preview of how they intend to play this year. Kelly said that that’s the plan, at least to start the season: to start Gonzales or Yorke at third base and Triolo at short most days.

It’s somewhat surprising. While a Gold Glove-winning utility man, Triolo has performed better at third base (4 outs above average, 7 defensive runs saved in 2025) than at shortstop (1 OAA, -1 DRS, in 128 more innings). Gonzales has more experience at shortstop (230 MLB innings) than third base (just 10).

The Pirates likely felt more confident with Triolo playing the more important defensive position.

“In regards to Triolo, just feel like he’s been so good at short in his limited time last year,” Kelly said. “He’s good anywhere you put him. But just felt like being a shortstop, having him there when he’s on the field is really important. And with Nick Yorke and Gonzales, the ability to move over to third and handle that well, they both worked extremely hard at being able to do that during this offseason and during spring training. Feel confident and comfortable with them there.”

Keller

‘ready for this year’

Keller made his final start of the spring on Sunday, completing 3 2/3 innings and allowing one run on three hits, a walk and five strikeouts. He threw 72 pitches, 41 for strikes.

All five of Keller’s strikeouts came on different pitches, something Keller was happy to hear when told postgame.

“I threw probably more pitches and I wasn’t as efficient as I would like to be, but I think that just kind of goes with throwing all the pitches, trying to get them all and use them, get some work in with them before the real deal,” Keller said. “I felt really good with it. Felt like I can use any pitch as a weapon to strike somebody out, so that’s a good feeling going into the season.”

Like most, Keller’s excited to start playing meaningful baseball. His next start will be Saturday in New York against the Mets, something Keller described as “awesome.”

“I’m ready for this year,” Keller said. “I don’t even know how to put words into what that feels like, because it’s truly an indescribable feeling, the first one of the year. Just being out there on a major league field is really cool, so truly excited.”