Martín Pérez looked sharp in 3 innings of work, despite giving up 1 run via a Colton Cowser home run. Pérez navigated 10 hitters using only 31 pitches, 24 of them for strikes. Pérez collected strikeouts of Jorge Mateo, Jordan Westburg and MLB’s consensus #1 prospect Jackson Holliday. If Pérez can keep this going, it will give fans a lot more confidence in the rotation as we approach opening day.
Ke’Bryan Hayes collected two singles and scored a run on a Connor Joe base hit. Hayes moved his OPS up to 1.214 and continues to mash the baseball.
Aroldis Chapman, Carmen Mlodzinski and Ryan Borucki all threw up zeros. Only Mlodzinski had to navigate any real trouble, giving up two hits.
Josh Fleming surrendered a leadoff double in the top of the 7th inning, but went on to escape without damage, striking out Ryan McKenna, Colton Cowser and getting Tyler Nevin to ground out.
Abrahan Gutierrez finally broke the deadlock in the bottom of the 7th inning with an RBI single. The Orioles responded right away in the top of the 8th with an RBI single of their own against Fleming.
Dauri Moreta really struggled with his control, issuing two walks and then giving up a decisive 3-run home run to TT Bowens. Moreta has now given up three home runs this spring, all on his slider.
The Pirates couldn’t muster a comeback in the 9th, dropping the eleventh game of spring training 5-2 to the Orioles.
The Pirates will be back in action on Monday at 1:05pm, when they travel to Port Charlotte, Florida to take on the Rays. Luis Ortiz will take the ball for the Pirates, and the game will be broadcast on Bally Sports Sun.
North Shore Nine 
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