masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgBRADENTON, Fla. – The Orioles will play their spring home opener on Sunday with a .500 record.
The Pirates hit back-to-back home runs off Parker Bridwell in the bottom of the eighth inning and cruised to a 6-2 win at LECOM Park.
The Orioles got a run back in the ninth on Robert Andino’s fielder’s choice grounder. The Pirates failed to turn a double play on three tries in the inning.
Bridwell struck out the first two batters before an infield hit and Chris Bostick’s two-run shot gave the…

BRADENTON, Fla. – The Orioles will play their spring home opener on Sunday with a .500 record.

The Pirates hit back-to-back home runs off Parker Bridwell in the bottom of the eighth inning and cruised to a 6-2 win at LECOM Park.

The Orioles got a run back in the ninth on Robert Andino’s fielder’s choice grounder. The Pirates failed to turn a double play on three tries in the inning.

Buck-Showalter-dugout-railing.jpgBridwell struck out the first two batters before an infield hit and Chris Bostick’s two-run shot gave the Pirates a 5-1 lead. Jin-De Jhang followed with a long home run to right field.

Gabriel Ynoa surrendered a run and three hits in the first inning, but he retired the side in the second without allowing a ball out of the infield.

“He’s got a good arm,” said manager Buck Showalter. “This was a good starting point for him. Kind of familiarize ourselves with him a little bit. He’s got good stuff. He’s got a good arm.”

Earlier in the day, the Braves claimed outfielder/first baseman Christian Walker off waivers from the Braves. The move didn’t come as much of a surprise. Someone was bound to take him.

“It’s a good move for Christian,” Showalter said. “He was kind of (stuck) with where we are with Chris (Davis) and Trumb (Mark Trumbo). It’s a good move for him as a human being and for his career.

“We thought with him having an option, we thought it was a good possibility. It’s a good move for him and I’m happy for him. He’ll get a good look and a good opportunity there.”

Joey Rickard, Adam Jones, Jonathan Schoop, Chris Johnson and Anthony Santander had hits for the Orioles.

Santander, Andino and Ryan Flaherty each have one RBI over the first two games.