The Baltimore Orioles plated four runs in the ninth inning on Thursday to turn an 8-5 deficit into a 9-8 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Ed Smith Stadium. For those who care about such things, the Orioles Spring record now stands at 6-1.
The Pirates jumped out to a 3-0 lead on a Henry Davis (2021 #1 overall draft pick) two out, three-run homerun off Corbin Burnes (1.2 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 3 K). The bottom of the first featured a prospect follower’s dream as Paul Skenes (2023 #1 overall pick) pitched to Jackson Holliday (2022 #1 overall pick), Adley Rutschman (2019 #1 overall pick) and Heston Kjerstad (2020 #2 overall pick) in order. Skenes, who hit 102 mph got Holliday (2 for 4, 3B) to groundout and Rutschman (0 for 3) and Kjerstad (1 for 3) each to fly out.
Kyle Stowers (2 for 2, HR, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB) and Jorge Mateo (2 for 3, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI) each hit solo homeruns in the second inning; Mateo added a second homerun in the sixth inning.
In the ninth a walk and a single set the stage for the Baltimore comeback. Silas Ardoin (1 for 1, 3B, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB) tripled in two runs and scored on an Errol Robinson (1 for 2, 1 R, 1 RBI, SB) single. Robinson scored the walk-off run on a Daniel Johnson (1 for 2, 1 R, 1 RBI) single.
Tyler Nevin went 3 for 3 with a double.
Diego Castillo went 1 for 2 with a run scored.
Cionel Perez (1.0 IP, 1 K) and Keegan Akin (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 2 K) pitched well.
Jacob Webb (1.0 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 BB) and Craig Kimbrel (1.0 IP, 1 R, 2 H, HR, 1 BB) did not fare as well.
Tucker Davidson (2.0 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2K) was credited with the win and is 1-0 on the Spring season.