New rules and home runs lead Pirates over Orioles
Bradenton, Florida was the sight for this one as the Pittsburgh Pirates hosted the Baltimore Orioles in Grapefruit League action. Today’s game marked one week until Opening Day as David Hess took the mound for the Orioles, and a familiar face to Baltimore, Chris Archer, started for the Pirates.
Hess gave up a solo home run in the bottom of the first to Jonah Davis, who was a last minute replacement for Starling Marte in center field. Hess continued to give up long balls as catcher Francisco Cervelli hit a solo shot to right field in the bottom of the second. He finished the day going five innings, giving up three hits and two earned runs with two strikeouts and one walk.
The Orioles bats responded in the fourth with Trey Mancini hitting a solo home run to right field. Later in the inning, doubles by Rio Ruiz and Joey Rickard tied the game at two a piece. Hanser Alberto then gave Baltimore the lead with a sacrifice fly. Chris Archer finished the day going three and two thirds innings, giving up four hits and three earned runs with six strikeouts and three walks.
Nate Karns took the mound in the sixth for Baltimore. Jonah Davis struck again hitting another solo home run to tie the game at three a piece. Karns would pitch just one inning giving up one earned run on two hits with one strikeout.
Miguel Castro and Josh Rogers pitched scoreless innings, which led to an interesting ninth inning. The inning began with a runner on second base. The league was testing the new extra innings rule, where the inning begins with a runner on second base for both teams. With runners on third and second, Drew Jackson hit a two RBI single to give the Orioles a 5-3 lead.
The Pirates started the bottom of the ninth with a runner at second base, like Baltimore. Josh Rogers came back out in the ninth, but was replaced by D.J. Snelten after giving up a leadoff walk. Snelten loaded the bases after hitting Ryan Haug with a pitch. It all went south from there as Jung Ho Kang hit a monstrous grand slam to walk it off for the Pirates in the bottom of the ninth. The winning pitcher for today’s game was Montana DuRapau and the losing pitcher was D.J. Snelten.
Final from Bradenton: Orioles 5 and Pirates 7
