masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgPITTSBURGH – The Pirates gambled and lost tonight in the seventh inning.

Their lead also was lost.

Pirates reliever Bryan Morris issued an intentional walk to pinch-hitter Steve Clevenger after falling behind in the count, loading the bases with one out for pinch-hitter Steve Pearce.

The Orioles trailed 8-7. Pearce was 10-for-24 with three doubles, a home run and eight RBIs lifetime against the Pirates.

Hence, the gamble.

Pearce fouled off two straight 97 mph sinkers, leaving the count…PITTSBURGH – The Pirates gambled and lost tonight in the seventh inning.

Their lead also was lost.

Pirates reliever Bryan Morris issued an intentional walk to pinch-hitter Steve Clevenger after falling behind in the count, loading the bases with one out for pinch-hitter Steve Pearce.

The Orioles trailed 8-7. Pearce was 10-for-24 with three doubles, a home run and eight RBIs lifetime against the Pirates.

Hence, the gamble.

Pearce fouled off two straight 97 mph sinkers, leaving the count 2-2, before lining another 97 mph sinker into right-center field to score Nelson Cruz for the tying run. He’s now 11-for-25 with nine RBIs against his former team.

J.J. Hardy was thrown out at the plate by such a wide margin that he didn’t bother to slide. Better to hold at third and keep the bases loaded with one out, in my humble opinion.

Nick Markakis walked with two outs, but Manny Machado struck out.

Pearce didn’t have an at-bat since May 13 and had one start since May 10, his playing time limited by Chris Davis’ return from the disabled list and the loss of a designated hitter in this series.

Ryan Webb will pitch the bottom of the seventh for the Orioles, who keep battling back after Chris Tillman’s abbreviated start.

Update: The Pirates broke the tie in the bottom of the seventh on Tony Sanchez’s RBI single off Webb, who allowed three hits.

No one is warming for the Orioles. Webb apparently will return for the eighth.

Update: The Orioles must settle for a split of their two-game series with the Pirates after tonight’s 9-8 loss at PNC Park.

The Orioles have scored 23 runs in the past three games and are 1-2. They fell to 10-5 in one-run games.

Tillman has an 8.23 ERA in six starts excluding his complete-game shutout in Kansas City.