The Pirates handed the Orioles their first loss of the season with a 9-2 victory Tuesday night at Memorial.
The game was scoreless through three innings. The visiting Pirates had two out singles from Juan Ortiz and Jackson Nave in the first. John Denney reached on an error in the second and the Pirates loaded the bases in the third on singles by Jose Cubero and Bill Keeling and Jackson reached on an error.
The Orioles put runners on in all three innings against John, too. A one out error in the first was erased by a pop up double play on a hit and run (Bobby Blair at second to Jackson at first). A one out single in the second and a two out single in the third were both stranded.
The Pirates struck for two runs in the top of the fourth. John Denney singled and went to second on a passed ball. With one out Brent Bonte reached on an error with John scoring on the play. Chris Gregory reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second and scored on the Orioles’ second error of the inning. Jose added a single.
The Orioles managed only one hit in the bottom of the inning and the Pirates led 2-0 after four.
The Pirates went down in order in the fifth and the Orioles got on the board in their half of the inning. After a lead off single down the third base line a ground ball to Brent at third resulted in a force out at second. But an attempt to complete the double play allowed the batter to reach second. One out later a single drove in the runner and the Pirate lead was cut to 2-1.
In the Pirates’ sixth, Brent’s two out single was wasted and the Orioles threatened to take the lead. A single and an error put runners on second and third. After an intentional pass issued by Leo Brown, Jose came on to pitch. On a ground ball, Jackson forced the runner out at home but the return throw on the double play attempt allowed a run to tie the game and left runners on second and third. A strike out, walk and pop out ended the threat.
With the score tied 2-2 going to the last inning, the Pirates put their first seven batters on with six of the runners scoring. Leo walked. Jose, Bill Keeling, Juan and Jackson singled. Dustin Stover doubled and John singled for an 8-2 Pirates lead. A double play almost got the Orioles out of the inning. But Brent singled and, after another Oriole error, scored for a 9-2 margin. Leo added his second walk of the inning.
Brent shut the Orioles out to preserve the win giving up a single and a walk.
The Orioles fell to 8-1, the Pirates improved to 7-2 and trail the Orioles by a game in the Bluegrass division..
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