The Pittsburgh Pirates fell 7-2 to the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium on Wednesday in spring training play. Despite Nick Cimillo's 1-for-1 with a home run and an RBI effort at the plate, the Pirates could not overcome a sizable deficit. Noah Davis worked 4.2 innings on the mound, allowing 3 earned runs on 3 hits. The Orioles out-hit the Pirates 7-4 on the day. 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

Nick Cimillo was the key contributor at the plate, going 1-for-1 with a home run and an RBI. The long ball provided a major boost to the offensive attack. It was the kind of day at the plate that suggests good things ahead for the Pirates offense.

Marcell Ozuna chipped in, going 1-for-3 with a double, Joey Bart added to the attack, going 1-for-3, and Jhostynxon Garcia provided support, going 1-for-1 with a double. Despite the individual efforts, the offense could not generate enough sustained production.

On the other side of the diamond, Taylor Ward led the Orioles offense with a 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI day. José Barrero also contributed, going 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI. Brayden Smith added a 1-for-1 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

Noah Davis took the loss after grinding through his innings, working 4.2 innings while allowing 3 earned runs on 3 hits with five strikeouts. He threw 64 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.

The bullpen combined for 2.4 innings of work, allowing 4 earned runs while striking out four. 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. Chris Bassitt recorded the save to close out the game.

Among the relievers, Justin Lawrence stood out with 1.0 innings of scoreless work, striking out two. The outing gave the coaching staff confidence in his ability to contribute this season.

How It Happened

Orioles got on the board first with three runs in the fifth inning. Orioles added three runs in the seventh. The Pirates responded with a run in the eighth. Orioles countered with a run in the eighth. The Pirates struck back with a run in the ninth. The Orioles were able to score in three separate innings, keeping the pressure on throughout the contest. Orioles out-hit the Pirates 7-4, with both teams playing clean defense. A crowd of 6,066 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.