The Baltimore Orioles defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2 in Bradenton on Thursday. Timely hitting was the impetus for the scoring by the Birds in a game that was a bit of an anomaly. The Orioles managed just three hits in the game but were gifted 3 walks and three hit batters by Pittsburgh pitching.
In the second inning Austin Hays (0 for 2, R, HBP) was hit by a pitch, Ramon Urias (0 for 2, BB) walked and Jorge Mateo (1 for 2, RBI, BB) singled, allowing Hays to score.
Urias reached base on a fielding error in the seventh with Collin Burns (0 for 1, R) pinch-running for him. Mateo walked, putting runners on first and second; Tavian Josenberger (0 for 1, R) was inserted as a pinch-runner for Mateo. Tyler Nevin (1 for 3, R, RBI, HBP) singled, knocking in Burns, and Kyle Stowers (1 for 3, HR, R 3 RBI) launched a three run homerun to right field, capping off the scoring and the inning. Somewhere Earl Weaver was looking down and smiling.
Grayson Rodriguez started and allowed two runs while scattering four hits, walking two and striking out two over 4.1 innings. He left the game after surrendering a one out double to Pittsburgh’s Alika Williams.
Craig Kimbrel (1-0) pitched the sixth inning and allowed 1 hit while striking out 1 and earned the win.
Jonathan Heasley (1.0 IP, K) and Nick Vespi (2.0 IP, 1 H, 5 K) finished off the effort.
