The Pittsburgh Pirates were defeated 5-2 by the Baltimore Orioles after a three-run top of the ninth inning at LECOM Park on Sunday afternoon.
With one out in the top of the ninth, Dauri Moreta surrendered a three-run home run to TT Bowens to break a 2-2 tie. Moreta retired the first two batters he faced before issuing back-to-back walks.
Moreta followed the home run by issuing another walk and was promptly taken out of the game. He walked off the field with assistant athletic trainer Tony Leo. Moreta’s fastball velocity was down, with his last offering averaging 89.9 mph immediately preceding his removal.
The Pirates (3-6) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a Connor Joe infield single. In to score on the base hit was Ke’Bryan Hayes.
The Orioles (9-1) responded in the third inning courtesy of a solo home run from Colton Cowser, his third of the spring.
Pittsburgh regained the lead in the seventh inning on an Abrahan Gutierrez RBI single. Baltimore quickly evened the score once more in the eighth on a Kyle Stowers run-scoring single.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
- Martín Pérez made his spring debut and allowed one run on Cowser’s solo shot. He worked three innings, allowed one hit, didn’t walk a batter and struck out three.
- Ke’Bryan Hayes went 2 for 3 with a run scored and is in the midst of a four-game hitting streak. Rowdy Tellez went 1 for 2 with a walk.
- Aroldis Chapman, Carmen Mlodzinski and Ryan Borucki each threw a scoreless inning of relief.
UP NEXT
The Pittsburgh Pirates will head to Fort Charlotte for a matchup with the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday afternoon. Luis Ortiz will be the Pirates’ starter. Ortiz worked a pair of scoreless innings in his first start of the spring. He will be opposed by fellow right-hander Aaron Civale.
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