PITTSBURGH -- Before Trevor Williams took the mound Wednesday night, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle called this a "learning year" for the young right-hander. It's not a time to focus on results, particularly the things out of his control, but a time to grow and develop at the game's highest level.
Williams did not begin the season in the Pirates' rotation, but his future may be there. And he continued to learn in a 5-2 loss to the Reds at PNC Park. Williams was charged with two runs while striking out six over 5 1/3 innings, effectively pounding the bottom of the strike zone before running into trouble in the sixth inning.