SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) – J.J. Hardy, Jonathan Schoop and Mark Trumbo all homered as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Pittsburgh Pirates to 6-5 on Thursday.
Trumbo hit a two-run homer and Schoop’s was a solo shot off Pittsburgh starter Jonathon Niese. Hardy connected off Jorge Rondon.
It was Trumbo’s fourth home run, Schoop’s third and Hardy’s first.
Niese worked six innings, allowing four runs on six hits.
“I care. I’m still preparing. Today was just get to that 100-pitch mark. I felt I was pretty efficient. Made a couple mistakes that during the season, when I go over hitters before the game, I probably don’t make those mistakes. I can’t say never, but more than likely won’t,” Niese said.
Tyler Wilson, who will begin the season in the rotation if Kevin Gausman starts out on the disabled list, allowed Matt Joyce’s home run in the first. He gave up the run on two hits in three innings.
Baltimore relievers Zach Britton and Darren O’Day worked on consecutive days for the first time this season. Britton pitched a scoreless seventh, O’Day allowed three runs in the eighth.
Joey Rickard’s ninth-inning RBI single won the game.
Joyce had two hits and knocked in two runs for the Pirates.
STARTING TIME
Pirates: It was just the third official Grapefruit League start for Niese and hadn’t pitched since March 8.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: INF/OF Michael Morse left the game in the fourth inning with an injury to his right leg.
“I felt a little grab while running,” Morse said. “It’s nothing big. It’s one of those spring training things where they take you out to play it safe.”
Orioles: C Matt Wieters, who hasn’t caught since leaving a game on March 12, was the designated hitter. He was 0 for 4.
Wieters was scheduled to throw from 120 feet to test his sore right elbow.
UP NEXT
Pirates: RHP Ryan Vogelsong starts against the Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers tonight. LHP David Price is the Red Sox starter.
