Pirates Pitching Struggles Early in Loss to Orioles

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates have a strong pitching staff, but problems early on doomed them in their most recent Spring Training contest.

The Pirates fell 5-2 to the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla., with the first three pitchers each giving up a home run.

Right-handed pitcher Cam Sanders made the start for the Pirates and allowed a solo home run to Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo off a 97.1 mph up above the zone, which came 106.3 mph off the bat to put the home team up 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning.

Left-handed relief pitcher Gregory Soto came on in the second inning, marking his first appearance since pitching for Team Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.

Soto, like his last appearance vs. Team USA in the semifinals on March 15, gave up a home run in the second inning. It was a two-run home run from first baseman Jhonkensy Noel, who took a sinker down in the zone and hit it 106.1 mph off the bat.

Right-handed pitcher Mike Clevinger, a non-roster invitee, and threw the next two innings for the Pirates and his only hit allowed was also a two-run home run.

Basallo, a top catching prospect for the Orioles, again showed his power, crushing a changeup over the middle of the zone at 110.6 mph, as the home team made it 5-0 in the bottom of the third inning.

What Else Happened in the Pirates Defeat

While the Pirates didn't pitch well early on, they did post five scoreless innings the rest of the way.

Left-handed pitcher Hunter Barco came in after Clevinger and threw two scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and posting three strikeouts. He drops his ERA down to 2.89 over four outings and 9.1 innings pitched.