Grapefruit League Game 8: Baltimore Orioles 10, Pittsburgh Pirates 8

The Pittsburgh Pirates played game 8 of 33 in their 2018 Grapefruit League schedule on Friday afternoon

Friday afternoon, the Pittsburgh Pirates traveled to Sarasota to battle the Baltimore Orioles. The Pirates were defeated by a score of 10-8 on Friday afternoon. With the loss, the Bucs are now 1-5-2 in Grapefruit League play.

Tyler Glasnow started for the Pirates on Friday and turned in a strong outing. Just as he did in his first outing of the spring, Glasnow continued to look more confident on the mound while featuring some of the best control he has ever shown.

In the bottom of the 1st inning Glasnow allowed a 1-out single to Trey Mancini and a double to Manny Machado making the score 1-0 Orioles. He then retired the next two batters, including his second strikeout of the inning, to end the Oriole threat.

After allowing a home run to Colby Rasmus to lead off the bottom of the 2nd inning, Glasnow would go on to retire 6 of the final 7 batters he faced. In total, Glasnow struck out 6 batters, without issuing a walk, in 3 innings pitched. He threw 36 of his 52 pitches for strikes.

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So far this spring Glasnow has allowed 4 runs on a pair of solo home runs, 6 hits, no walks, and 8 strikeouts in 5 innings pitched. Glasnow has also thrown just a single wild pitch and is hitting his spots with the more consistency than ever before. It’s just a super small sample size in Spring Training, but seeing progress from Glasnow is still encouraging.

The Pittsburgh Pirates started their scoring with a 4-run top of the 2nd inning. Singles by Colin Moran and Jose Osuna paired with Jacob Stallings being hit by a pitch loaded the bases. With 2 outs, Adam Frazier promptly unloaded them with a triple to make the score 3-1 Pirates. Starling Marte‘s first double of the spring then plated Frazier to extend the Pirate lead to 4-1.

The Bucs would add to their lead in both the top of the 3rd and 4th innings. Josh Bell and Moran hit back-to-back doubles to start the top of the 3rd inning, making the score 5-2 Pirates. Then in the top of the 4th inning, Todd Cunningham plated Frazier on a sacrifice fly to make it 6-2.

Left-handed reliever Jack Leathersich replaced Glasnow in the bottom of the 4th inning. After walking a trio and allowing a double, Leathersich was lifted for non-roster invitee Damien Magnifico.

Things would not fare much better for Magnifico who allowed a single to Trey Mancini and a 2-run home run to Manny Machado, making the score 8-6 Orioles after 4 innings of play.

In the top of the 5th inning the Pirates quickly got a run back. Bryce Brentz recorded his second hit of the game, and then Max Moroff drove him home with his second double of the spring. This cut the Oriole lead to 8-7.

Rule 5 Draft pick Jordan Milbrath pitched the bottom of the 5th inning and had his first poor outing of the spring. After retiring the first batter of the inning, Milbrath allowed a single to Mark Trumbo and a 2-run home run to Tim Beckham. After walking Caleb Joseph, he got a double play ball to end the 5th inning with the Pirates trailing 10-7.

Jordan Milbrath would bounce back in the bottom of the 6th inning to post a zero, while striking out the side. Non-roster invitee Richard Rodriguez pitched a scoreless bottom of the 7th inning for the Pirates, while fellow non-roster invitee Tyler Jones did the same in the bottom of the 8th inning.

In the top of the 9th inning, the Pirates were able to bring the go-ahead run to the plate after a Jason Martin single and a Kevin Kramer walk. However, Ryan Lavarnway would then fly out to end the game.

Notable offensive performances included Adam Frazier going 3-for-3 with a triple, Starling Marte going 2-for-3 with a double, Bryce Brentz going 2-for-3, Josh Bell going 1-for-4 with a double, and Colin Moran going 3-for-4 with a double. Jose Osuna and Max Moroff both went 1-for-3 as well.

Next: Daniel Nava out 10-12 weeks

Next up for the Pittsburgh Pirates is a 1:05 Saturday matinee against the Philadelphia Phillies back home in Bradenton at LECOM Park. Ivan Nova will start for the Pirates in his second outing of Grapefruit League play.

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