The Pirates got a strong start from right-hander Vince Velasquez, who became their third pitcher to record seven strikeouts this spring, but they didn’t have an answer for Ryan O’Hearn.
O’Hearn went 3 for 4, including a solo home run, and scored three runs to lead the Baltimore Orioles to a 6-4 win over the Pirates on Saturday night in a Grapefruit League game at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla.
The Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when Oneil Cruz, who went 2 for 4 with a walk, reached on an error and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ke’Bryan Hayes.
Velasquez, who allowed three hits and two walks in five-plus innings, gave up his lone run in the fifth when O’Hearn doubled, advanced to third on a fly out and scored on Jordan Westburg’s sacrifice fly to tie it.
The Orioles, again sparked by O’Hearn, scored four runs in the seventh off Wil Crowe, who lasted only 1/3 of an inning after giving up three hits and two walks on 22 pitches.
O’Hearn singled to right off Crowe, advanced to second on a Ryan McKenna walk, to third on Nomar Mazar’s fielder’s choice and scored on a two-run double by Westburg for a 3-1 lead. Anthony Benbroom followed with a two-run homer to right-center to make it 5-1.
O’Hearn hit a solo homer to right-center off lefty Jose Hernandez in the eight to stretch Baltimore’s lead to 6-1. The Pirates rallied for three runs in the bottom of the eighth on a two-run single by Mike Jarvis and Drew Maggi scoring on a groundout by Canaan Smith-Njigba.
Lefty Rich Hill is expected to start against Atlanta’s Spencer Strider when the Pirates visit the Braves at 1:05 p.m. Sunday in North Port.
