The Pittsburgh Pirates handed the Baltimore Orioles a 6-1 loss at LECOM Park on Friday in spring training play. Despite Bryan Ramos's 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI effort at the plate, the Orioles could not overcome a sizable deficit. Shane Baz worked 2.1 innings on the mound, allowing 0 earned runs on 0 hits. The Pirates out-hit the Orioles 12-8 on the day. The loss is a minor bump as the Orioles continue fine-tuning ahead of Opening Day. The exhibition season is about preparation, and today provided the kind of reps the coaching staff needs to see.
Key Performers
Bryan Ramos was the key contributor at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. His extra-base hit was a key moment in the game. The Orioles will be hoping for more of the same as the spring continues.
Will Robertson chipped in, going 1-for-2 with a double, Blaze Alexander added to the attack, going 1-for-3, and Ryan Mountcastle provided support, going 1-for-3 with a double. The Orioles showed flashes of offense but could not piece together the big inning they needed.
On the other side of the diamond, Termarr Johnson led the Pirates offense with a 1-for-1 with two RBI day. Davis Wendzel also contributed, going 2-for-2 with an RBI. Yordany De Los Santos added a 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI effort as well. The Pirates offense proved to be too much for the Orioles pitching staff to contain on this particular day.
On the Mound
Shane Baz got the start, running into trouble, working 2.1 innings while allowing 0 earned runs on 0 hits with four strikeouts. He threw 39 pitches in the outing. The coaching staff will review his performance as they continue mapping out the pitching plan for the regular season.
The bullpen combined for 4.5 innings of work, allowing 6 earned runs while striking out five. The Orioles continue to sort through their relief options as they build their Opening Day bullpen. Every inning pitched in the spring is an opportunity for pitchers to make their case for a spot on the roster when the games start counting.
Among the relievers, Brandon Young stood out with 2.0 innings of scoreless work, striking out one. It was an impressive showing that could factor into roster decisions.
How It Happened
The Orioles struck first, tallying a run in the sixth inning. Pirates answered with a run in the sixth. Pirates tacked on five runs in the seventh. Pirates out-hit the Orioles 12-8, with 3 errors committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 4,573 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
Despite the result, the Orioles will take the lessons learned from this game and move forward. Spring training is about preparation and evaluation, not wins and losses, and the coaching staff gained valuable information about the roster today. There is still time to make adjustments before the regular season begins, and games like this one are part of that process.