Orioles Rough Up Ohlendorf, Pirates Lose Again

By Zane Heiple

Photo Credit: J. Meric/Getty Images

The Buccos were back in action against the American League East today as they took on the Baltimore Orioles for the fourth time this spring, having dropped the previous three.  Ross “The Boss” Ohlendorf took the hill for the Pirates against the Orioles’ Chris Tillman.

Pittsburgh took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on Jason Jaramillo’s RBI single that scored Matt Diaz.  That would be the last time the Pirates would have the lead as the O’s would lay the lumber to Ohlendorf in the third inning.

All six of the Orioles’ runs in the frame came with two outs.  Baltimore’s huge inning caused the Pirates’ coaches to pull Ross from the game after only three innings, when hew as originally scheduled to pitch five.  It has been a rough week for Pittsburgh’s potential starters.  Hopefully the staff is able to get it together over these final two weeks of Spring Training.

The Pirates cut the lead in half in the fifth inning when Andrew McCutchen’s single drove in Jose Tabata.  Cutch would score two batters later on a single by Diaz.

Baltimore countered with three runs in both the seventh and eighth innings to make the score 12-3.  These six runs would come off of Scott Olsen and Joe Beimel, both of which have had rough appearances since returning from injuries that held them out for most of the spring.  The Orioles finished their day with one more run in the ninth to make the final 13-3.

The only pitcher to show life for the Pirates today was Daniel McCutchen, who went two innings while giving up three hits and walking one batter.  Pittsburgh will try to end this stretch of awful baseball tomorrow when they head to Clearwater, Florida to play the Philadelphia Phillies.  Brad Lincoln will start for the Buccos and Ryan Doumit is expected to return from a minor oblique strain.

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!