Pirates Drop Opener

The Pirates (visitors) dropped a 5-2 decision to the defending Champion Orioles (home) in the season opener Sunday at Memorial.

After the Pirates went down in order in the first against Adam Crawford, the Orioles scored four runs on only one hit in the bottom of the inning.  After a lead-off walk, an error on a potential double play ball put runners on first and second.  After both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch, the bases were loaded by another walk.  The Orioles scored a run on wild pitch (1-0) before the bases were loaded again when the next batter was hit by a pitch.  A single drove in two runs (3-0) and left runners at first and third.  The scoring for the inning was closed out with a run scoring on a ground out to Bill Keeling at second base (4-0).  A walk preceded a pop out to Bill at second and a foul out to Scotty Irish behind home plate.

In the second, the Pirates got their first base runner on Jackson Nave's single, but he was stranded at first.

In the bottom of the inning, after a lead-off walk, an ill Dustin Stover had to come out of the game and John Deeney came on in relief.  After a fly out to Leo Brown in right, a single put runners on first and second, but there was no damage as the next two batters resulted in outs (a Bobby Blair (third base) to Bill Keeling fielders choice and a pop out to Brian Hooper at Short).

In the third Juan Ortiz's single was wasted and the Orioles added another unearned run (their third of the game).  The Oriole lead off flew out to Chris Gregory in center.  But an Oriole double produced a run when the runner was able to score on a single and an out field error on the play (5-0).

Neither team scored in the fourth but the Orioles threatened when a one out single, infield error and wild pitch put runners on second and third before a strike out and a come backer to John Denney ended the threat,

In the fifth, the Pirates failed to drive in John Denney after his two out double.  The Orioles loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning with none out on three straight singles.  But a pop out to Brian at short and a double play on a fly out to Jose Cubero in left with a throw to Bobby Blair at third killed the threat.

The Pirates got on the board in the sixth.  Bill Keeling doubled, advanced to third on David Stierle's ground out to second, and scored on a wild pitch (5-1).  Leo walked but was stranded at first.  The Orioles failed to capitalize on a lead-off infield error.

The Pirates added a run in the seventh.  Chris Gregory singled and advanced to second on an error in right field,  On his steal of third, a catcher's throwing error allowed him to score (5-2).  Scotty Irish was stranded at first after his one out single.

Neither team threatened the rest of the way.

The Pirates play the Dodgers Tuesday night (7:00 pm) at memorial.

Go to the pages for game photos.