masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgBRADENTON, Fla. – Zech Zinicola gave up a pair of two-out singles in the bottom of the ninth inning, the last one to Felix Pie, before recording a strikeout to complete the Orioles’ 12-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at McKechnie Field.

The game lasted 3:37, not counting the 16-minute rain delay.

The first inning dragged along as the Orioles scored eight runs in the top half and the Pirates answered with two in the bottom half.

“We counted 11 breaks in the action in the first…BRADENTON, Fla. – Zech Zinicola gave up a pair of two-out singles in the bottom of the ninth inning, the last one to Felix Pie, before recording a strikeout to complete the Orioles’ 12-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at McKechnie Field.

The game lasted 3:37, not counting the 16-minute rain delay.

The first inning dragged along as the Orioles scored eight runs in the top half and the Pirates answered with two in the bottom half.

“We counted 11 breaks in the action in the first inning. Eleven. Eleven,” said manager Buck Showalter.

I won’t run the rest of the quote, but it cracked up the beat crew.

Outfielder Trayvon Robinson is day-to-day with a lower back strain. The discomfort surfaced as he tried to get back to the bag on an attempted pickoff in the first inning after a run-scoring single. Lew Ford pinch-ran for him.

Showalter saw the same issues with Brian Matusz that the left-hander described earlier today. The ball was up and he was getting hit.

“Tough day to pitch,” Showalter said, “but he was elevated a little bit.”

Troy Patton was charged with five runs in two-thirds of an inning.

“Talking to him and the catcher, it was close to being a good outing,” Showalter said. “He got his work in. I’m OK with where he is.

“It’s one of those spring training days that, pitching-wise, it’s tough for everybody.”

Nick Markakis took batting practice today in Sarasota and is expected to do the same on Monday.

Chris Tillman threw 62 pitches in four innings at Twin Lakes Park. Tillman worked on his two-seam fastball and “got a little bit out of sync in the second inning, but he got back in line,” Showalter said.

Tillman is expected to be on the 25-man roster on opening day, but he needs to build up his innings.