BRADENTON, Fla. -- Steve Pearce has gone from being Topps' 2007 Minor League Player of the Year to a near-afterthought in the Pirates' camp this spring.

First base?

That is his primary position, but Jeff Clement is the semi-designated starter, Garrett Jones also can play there, and shortstop Bobby Crosby is seeing time there, too, to prepare as a backup.

Right field?

That is Jones' position, with free agent Ryan Church as backup. Rule 5 draft pick John Raynor and Brandon Moss are the other top candidates there.

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Today

Game: Pirates vs. New York Yankees, 1:15 p.m., George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, Fla. RHP Charlie Morton vs. LHP CC Sabathia.

TV, radio: None.

Camp roster: 66 players, including 36 pitchers, six catchers, 13 infielders, 11 outfielders.

Injuries: RHP Octavio Dotel (oblique), RHP Joel Hanrahan (elbow).

Of note: 27 days until the Los Angeles Dodgers at PNC Park.

Notice any name missing?

"I know the challenge that's here in front of me," Pearce said before his fifth-inning single would be the Pirates' only hit in a 6-0 split-squad loss to the New York Yankees Monday at McKechnie Field. "I'm just going to work as hard as I can and, hopefully, turn some heads. That's all I can do."

Pearce is off to a slow start this spring, with just that single in 12 at-bats. But the far larger reason he has fallen so far in the Pirates' sights is his .237 career average in 120 career games at the major league level, including .206 over the final two months of last season when given his first sustained duty.

All that is in stark contrast to his monster numbers in the minors: .290 with 89 home runs in 517 games. In 2007 alone, when he rocketed from Class A Lynchburg to Pittsburgh, he had 31 home runs. And those are the numbers that, even in this scenario, have prompted management to keep him on the 40-man roster.

Pearce's chief problem has been a lack of plate discipline, and that trait tends to be gained at the lower levels. It is possible, some inside the game have suggested, that he ascended too quickly in 2007.

"Oh, definitely not," Pearce replied when that issue was raised. "You go back over my last couple years, and I did pretty well in the minors. When the average wasn't there, home runs and RBIs were. It's just a matter of transferring that to the big leagues. I honestly don't know right now if I have 300 at-bats here."

He has 342, including 165 last year.

"I need an everyday shot, and I still haven't had that. But if that role is on the bench, it's on the bench."

Pearce, who will turn 27 next month, is competing for backup duty at first base, where all his game action has come this spring, and right field, where he has practiced. If Pearce does not make it, he will be optioned back to Class AAA Indianapolis -- it would be his fourth year there -- and continue working at both positions.

"If Steve loses out, he will get a chance to continue his development and earn his way back to the majors," general manager Neal Huntington said.

Less than 24 hours after pounding out 15 runs against the Minnesota Twins, the Pirates mustered next to nothing against New York, especially during starter Alfredo Aceves' perfect four innings.

The Pirates' Paul Maholm made a two-inning start and allowed two runs and three hits.

All came in the first: Derek Jeter singled after a 3-2 count, Curtis Granderson drew a four-pitch walk, and Randy Winn reached on an infield single. That set up the unsavory scene of bases loaded and nobody out for Alex Rodriguez, and Rodriguez fought through two full-count foul tips to roll a two-run single up the middle.

"I didn't do myself any favors by falling behind to almost every guy who came up," Maholm said. "But I made some decent pitches, and the balls that were hit were just grounders up the middle. Then, I came back out for the second and found my rhythm."

He walked Jeter that inning but picked him off first base.

In the other split-squad game at Port Charlotte, Fla., the Pirates lost to the Tampa Bay Rays, 4-3 in 10 innings, getting good showings from their top two prospects: Pedro Alvarez and Jose Tabata each went 2 for 4 with a triple. Alvarez's single in the fourth scored Tabata. Alvarez's triple in the seventh went off the 410-foot fence in center, and Brian Friday followed with a two-run home run for a 3-1 lead.

Evan Meek allowed two runs in the eighth, Jeff Sues the decisive run in the 10th.

Top pitching prospect Brad Lincoln made a two-inning start and allowed one run on two hits, three walks.

"I had some control issues," he said. "Other than that, I felt good out there. I felt energized."

The Pirates are 2-4-1 in Grapefruit League play.

Closer Octavio Dotel, out the past two weeks because of a strained oblique, is set to throw a bullpen session today at McKechnie Field.

• Outfielder Brandon Jones made his first game appearance after missing a week to a sore right knee, going 0 for 3 as a designated hitter against the Yankees.

• Manager John Russell was with the split squad in Port Charlotte. Bench coach Gary Varsho managed against the Yankees.

• Rodriguez will make a $32 million salary in 2010, close to the Pirates' projected opening-day payroll of $35.6 million for the full roster.

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