Baltimore Orioles 8, Pittsburgh Pirates 6

Feb 19, 2017; Bradenton, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Drew Hutchison (34) pose for a photo for photo day at Pirate City. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 19, 2017; Bradenton, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Drew Hutchison (34) pose for a photo for photo day at Pirate City. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Pittsburgh Pirates are now 14-6 in Grapefruit League play

The Pittsburgh Pirates have lost three straight games. Gasp! If this were the regular season, large portions of the fan base would be yelling “collapse!” and calling for heads to roll. Luckily, it is not the regular season.

The Pirates were defeated by the Baltimore Orioles by a score of 8-6 on Friday afternoon. Due to this, and a three game losing streak, the Pittsburgh Pirates are now 14-6 in Grapefruit League play.

Drew Hutchison made the start for the Pirates on Friday. Hutchison is competing for the final spot in the Pirate rotation. Prior to Friday, he had been fantastic this spring and was locking that spot up. Friday, however, did not go well for Hutchison.

Hutchison battled control issues throughout the day on Friday. He lasted just 3 1/3 innings and allowed six runs, all earned, on seven hits, two walks, a home run, and four strikeouts. Pat Light would relieve Hutchison, and walk a batter in 2/3 of an inning of work.

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Felipe Rivero would follow Drew Hutchison. In two innings of work he did not allow a base runner and he struck out three batters. Rivero will have a huge season out of the bullpen for the Pirates in 2017.

Rule 5 Draft pick Tyler Webb then pitched two innings. In his two innings of work Webb allowed two runs on four hits and three strikeouts. Wade LeBlanc then pitched a scoreless ninth inning for the Bucs.

Jordy Mercer hit lead off for the Pirates on Friday and went 1-for-3. Alen Hanson started at second base and continued to make a strong push to make the Opening Day roster. Hanson finished the day 3-for-5 with a double. Third baseman David Freese was 0-for-2 with a walk.

John Jaso made another start in right field as he continues to add to his positional flexibility. Jaso went 1-for-2 with a walk and a RBI on Friday. In his first start since returning from the World Baseball Classic Francisco Cervelli was 0-for-2 with a walk. Top prospect Austin Meadows 2-for-5 playing in center field.

Next up for the Pittsburgh Pirates is a trip to Clearwater on Saturday afternoon to play the Philadelphia Phillies. Tyler Glasnow will make the start for the Pirates. Steven Brault and Pat Light are both also scheduled to pitch.

The Pittsburgh Pirates also made a trio of cuts on Friday. Relief pitcher Dovydas Neverauskas was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis. Odds are, Neverauskas will make his Major League debut at some point in 2017. Additionally, catcher Christian Kelley and outfielder Barrett Barnes were re-assigned to Minor League camp.