PIRATE GAME: Pirates Preview: Bailey Falter faces former team looking for repeat success

Pirates Preview: Bailey Falter faces former team looking for repeat success

Pirates Bailey Falter Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Bailey Falter throws in the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Bradenton, Fla. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) (Charlie Neibergall/AP)

April 12, 2024 at 5:40 p.m. UTC

By Danny Demilio, Pittsburgh Baseball Now

PHILADELPHIA — This article originally appeared on pittsburghbaseballnow.com.

The Pittsburgh Pirates were defeated 5-1 by the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Thursday in the opening game of a four-game series.

Rookie right-hander Jared Jones struck out eight batters and didn’t walk any but yielded a pair of home runs in 6.1 innings pitched. The Pirates’ offense scuffled and struck out 14 times.

The Pirates will look to even the series on Friday night with Bailey Falter on the mound, who will pitch against the team that drafted him.