The Baltimore Orioles secured a 7-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Ed Smith Stadium on Wednesday in spring training action. Taylor Ward paced the offense, going 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. On the mound, Kyle Bradish turned in a solid outing, working 5.0 innings of scoreless ball with two strikeouts. The Orioles finished with 7 hits on the day while holding the Pirates to 4. It was an encouraging performance for the Orioles as they continue sharpening the roster for the regular season. Games like these serve as a valuable measuring stick for where the team stands heading into the campaign.
Key Performers
Taylor Ward was the key contributor at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI. The long ball provided a major boost to the offensive attack. It was the kind of day at the plate that suggests good things ahead for the Orioles offense.
José Barrero chipped in, going 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI, Brayden Smith added to the attack, going 1-for-1, and Adley Rutschman provided support, going 1-for-4. It was a balanced attack that kept the pressure on from the first pitch to the last.
On the other side of the diamond, Nick Cimillo led the Pirates offense with a 1-for-1 with a home run and an RBI day. Marcell Ozuna also contributed, going 1-for-3 with a double. Joey Bart added a 1-for-3 effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Orioles pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Kyle Bradish earned the win after pitching effectively, working 5.0 innings while allowing 0 earned runs on 1 hit with two strikeouts. He threw 73 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.
The bullpen combined for 4.0 innings of work, allowing 2 earned runs while striking out three. The relief corps did its job in protecting the lead after the starter departed. Managing the bullpen workload is a key priority during the spring, and every outing helps the coaching staff gauge who is ready for high-leverage situations. Chris Bassitt recorded the save to close out the game.
How It Happened
The Orioles struck first, tallying three runs in the fifth inning. The Orioles added three runs in the seventh. Pirates responded with a run in the eighth. The Orioles countered with a run in the eighth. Pirates struck back with a run in the ninth. The Orioles spread their scoring across three different innings, applying consistent pressure throughout the game. The Orioles out-hit Pirates 7-4 on the day, with both teams playing clean defense. A crowd of 6,066 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
It was a productive day for the Orioles, who continue to put the pieces in place ahead of the regular season. The coaching staff will take the positives from this outing and use the remaining spring games to finalize the roster. Days like this one suggest the Orioles are heading in the right direction as Opening Day draws closer.