The Pittsburgh Pirates fell 5-2 to the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium on Thursday in spring training play. Despite Bryan Reynolds's 2-for-3 with an RBI effort at the plate, the Pirates could not pull even when it mattered. Cam Sanders worked 1.0 innings on the mound, allowing 1 earned run on 1 hit. The Pirates finished with 9 hits on the day while holding the Orioles to 7. The Pirates will look to regroup as spring training rolls on. There is still time to work through the rough patches before the regular season arrives, and the coaching staff will use today's performance as a learning opportunity.
Key Performers
Bryan Reynolds was the top performer at the plate, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. He put together quality at-bats throughout the game. It was the kind of day at the plate that suggests good things ahead for the Pirates offense.
Jared Triolo provided support, going 1-for-3, Murf Gray also contributed, going 1-for-1 with a double, and Henry Davis chipped in, going 1-for-3. Despite the individual efforts, the offense could not generate enough sustained production.
On the other side of the diamond, Samuel Basallo led the Orioles offense with a 3-for-3 with two home runs and three RBI day. Jhonkensy Noel also contributed, going 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. Jeremiah Jackson added a 2-for-4 effort as well. The Orioles offense proved to be too much for the Pirates pitching staff to contain on this particular day.
On the Mound
Cam Sanders took the loss after having a rough go of it, working 1.0 innings while allowing 1 earned run on 1 hit with two strikeouts. He threw 20 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.
The bullpen combined for 7.0 innings of work, allowing 4 earned runs while striking out eight. The relief corps kept the game within reach after the starter departed. Managing the bullpen workload is a key priority during the spring, and every outing helps the coaching staff gauge who is ready for high-leverage situations. Jackson Kowar recorded the save to close out the game.
Among the relievers, Mike Clevinger stood out with 2.0 innings of 2-run work, striking out four. The outing gave the coaching staff confidence in his ability to contribute this season.
How It Happened
Orioles got on the board first with a run in the first inning. Orioles pushed across two runs in the second. Orioles plated two runs in the third. The Pirates answered with two runs in the fifth. The Orioles were able to score in three separate innings, keeping the pressure on throughout the contest. The Pirates out-hit Orioles 9-7 on the day, with both teams playing clean defense. A crowd of 5,734 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
The Pirates will regroup and get back to work in their next outing. While the final score was not in their favor, the exhibition season is about building toward the regular season, and this game provided useful reps for a roster still taking shape. The coaching staff will review the performance and make adjustments before the next time out.
