Orioles Go Even in Split-Squad Games Monday

The Orioles fell to the Pirates 10-3. Here are some of the news and notes from the game.

Brian Matusz gave up three hits to the first four Pirates’ batters for two consecutive innings. Two of the three hits the southpaw gave up in the second were infield singles. He topped 91 mph on the radar gun. The velocity is a positive sign as during his injury plagued 2011 season was in the mid 80’s.

The 25-year-old gave up three earned runs on six hits and struck out three in his two innings of work. The location was strong with his strikeouts as he painted the corners on each sides, but needs to cut down on the hits to be a consistent member of the rotation.

The Orioles tallied a run in the first inning as Adam Jones scored from first base on a fielding error by right fielder Starling Marte. Mark Reynolds was credited with the RBI.

Updated:

Kevin Gregg relieved Matusz and gave up a two-run homer to Matt Hague, which made it 5-1. He struck out the side afterwards.

Jones walked to lead off the third inning, but it was all for not as the Orioles failed to bring him in and trailed 5-1 through the first third of the game.

Updated:

The newly acquired Matt Lindstrom pitched the fourth inning for the Orioles and gave up a lead off single to Marte. After a stolen base by Marte, Alex Presley tripled to center field which increased their lead to 6-1. Shortstop Josh Harrison walked to set up runners on the corners. Yamaico Navarro singled to Shortstop J.J. Hardy that scored Presley to make it 7-1. The Orioles gave up one more run as Harrison scored on a force out.

The Orioles were retired in order in the fourth and trailed 8-1 to the Pirates.

5th Inning update:

Darren O’Day became the first Orioles pitcher to retire the Pirates lead-off man in an inning as he struck out Gorkys Hernandez. He walked Garrett Jones and allowed Marte to single to set up runners on first and second with one out. Michael McKenry flied out to Jones in center for the second out. Robbie Grossman, who came into hit for Presley, singled on a ground ball to Hardy which scored Jones. Marte scored after a throwing error by first baseman Chris Davis that made it 10-1 Pirates.

Robert Andino singled with one out to center field. Top position prospect Manny Machado replaced Andino on the base paths, but the Orioles were unable to manufacture any runs as they trailed 10-1 through five innings.

Machado stays in at shortstop and L.J. Hoes is in left field.

6th Inning Update

Oscar Villarreal threw the first scoreless inning of the game for the Orioles as he struck out two batters and got Evan Chambers to pop out. Villarreal allowed a single to Hague, who has three hits tonight, but no damage was done.

Buck Britton replaced Reynolds, who walked to lead off the inning, and advanced to third after Steve Tolleson reached second on a fielding error at the wall in left field. Ryan Adams grounded out to second base, which scored Britton to cut the deficit slightly to 10-2. Baltimore tallied another run on a Davis base hit that scored Tolleson to make it 10-3. Jai Miller struck out and John Hester grounded to third to end the frame.

Britton stays in at third base.

7th inning Update

Troy Patton pitched the inning for the Orioles and retired Jeff Clement on a great play by Machado. Quincy Lattimore tripled and Tony Sanchez walked, but no damage was done.

The Orioles prospects Machado, Hoes and Glynn Davis were retired in order in the seventh.

10-3 Pirates through seven.

8th Inning Update:

Patton continued his outing in the eighth and retired the first two hitters. He allowed a two-out line drive base hit by Pirates minor leaguer Eric Fryer that was just out of the reach of Machado. Pittsburgh couldn’t take advantage as Jordy Mercer struck out swinging.

The Orioles were retired in order as Britton grounded out, Tolleson struck out and Trent Mummey flied to left field.

9th Inning Update

Right-handed pitcher Stuart Pomeranz was the last pitcher to take the mound for the Orioles and retired the first two Pirates in the process. Latimore, who tripled earlier, singled on a line drive to right field. Sanchez also singled to right, but Grossman grounded into a force out to end the threat for the Pirates.

The Orioles were held scoreless in their final frame despite a base hit by Edgardo Baez.

Baltimore split their split squad games Monday.  They defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 in their earlier contest.  Machado and Hoes both played in the game and went a combined 0-3 at the plate.  Joe Mahoney went 2-4 and contributed a solid game.

Alfredo Simon struck out two Rays hitters in two scoreless innings in his first spring start.  Brad Bergesen, who received the win, relieved Simon and pitched two scoreless frames, walked one and struck out two.