Wednesday night game with the Pittsburgh Pirates looked to be a runaway affair early until the Buccos plated four runs in the fifth inning to take the lead. The Baltimore Orioles answered that with a run of their own in the bottom of the fifth and scored two more runs in the eighth inning to seal the deal.
The scoring started in the first inning with a two-run Anthony Santander (1 for 3, HR, 1 R, 2 RBI) tater. Santander “struck” again in the third inning when he grounded into a double play with the bases loaded, allowing Jorge Mateo (1 for 2, 1 R, HBP) to score the O’s third run.
The pitching did it’s part to make the lead stick until the fifth inning. Julio Teheran started and allowed just 1 walk in 2.0 innings of work. Bruce Zimmermann (2.2 IP, 4 R, 2 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 5 K) followed and left the game with one run in, the bases loaded and two outs in the fifth inning. Zimmermann did strike out the side in the fourth. Ryan Watson (0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 K) balked in a run and then a Gunnar Henderson (3 for 3. 2B, 1 R) fielding error extended the inning and as a result two unearned runs eventually crossed the plate.
Adley Rutschman (1 for 2, 1 RBI, 1 BB) singled in a run in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Dillon Tate (1.0 IP, 1 K), Mike Baumann (1.0 IP, 1 K), Nick Vespi (1.0 IP) and Jonathan Heasley (1.0 IP, 1 K) each pitched clean innings with Vespi (1-0) getting the win.
Coby Mayo (1 for 1, 2B, 2 RBI) doubled in the eventual winning runs in the eighth.