The Pittsburgh Pirates fell to 10-9-3 in Spring Training play with a loss Tuesday to the Baltimore Orioles.
Jared Hughes allowed six hits and five earned runs in one-third of an inning losing his first Spring Training game.
Radhames Liz started the contest for the Pirates and pitched three innings allowing four hits however kept the Orioles off the scoreboard. Liz, a former Oriole, is in the running for a potential bullpen spot.
It was not until the fourth inning that the Orioles scored, however it was the aforementioned five-run inning against Hughes. The Orioles scored their first run when former Pirate Steve Pearce hit his fifth home run of the spring. The home run, coupled with a 2-for-3 day at the plate, raised Pearce’s average to .382 on the spring.
The other run scoring plays in the inning for Baltimore consisted of: a Chris Davis single, Ryan Lavarnway ground out, Everth Cabrera single and Ryan Flaherty single.
Rob Scahill relieved Hughes and threw 1.2 innings allowing one hit and also striking out one batter.
Blake Wood allowed an additional two Orioles runs in the sixth inning on a Paul Janish single. Wood also allowed two hits and walked a batter.
Down 7-0, the Pirates countered with two runs of their own when Jaff Decker grounded into a double play to plate Tony Sanchez. Neil Walker singled to drive in the other run. Walker went 3-for-4 at the plate. The runs were scored off Zach Britton.
The Pirates middle infield helped turn a near-record five double plays in this game. The current record is six.
Josh Wall pitched two-thirds of an inning for the Pirates and allowed two runs. Caleb Joseph hit a sacrifice fly for the Orioles and Chris Parmalee walked with the bases loaded to bring home the ninth and final run of the game. A.J. Morris was needed to get the last out of the seventh.
Stolmy Pimentel pitched the final two innings of the game and surrendered a hit and a walk. Pimentel has had an up and down spring and currently possesses a 6.75 ERA. Pimentel is fighting for a potential bullpen spot as he is out of options and would have to be put on waivers were he not to make the Opening Day roster.
Andrew McCutchen saw his first action in this game since March 12 and went 0-for-2 in his four innings of work. Defensively McCutchen played center field. McCutchen is working towards his return from what the team designates as lower body soreness.
The Pirates do not have a game on Wednesday but will take to the diamond Thursday against the Atlanta Braves in a contest scheduled to begin at 1:05. Vance Worley will start for the Pirates and Wandy Rodriguez will do the same for the Braves.
Rodriguez, a former Pirate has earned the fourth spot in the Braves pitching rotation. Clayton Richard is also expected to pitch for the Pirates. The game will be webcast on pirates.com.
