PITTSBURGH—What happened? Eight days after their successful home opener, the Orioles participated in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ opener. This one didn’t turn out well for the Orioles as Kyle Bradish gave up four runs in the second in the Orioles’ 5-4 loss to the Pirates before 38,986 at PNC Park on Friday.
The Orioles are 3-4.
After Bradish walked former Oriole Ryan O’Hearn, who was playing his first home game for the Pirates, he struck out Spencer Horwitz, then allowed four straight run-scoring hits.
The first was to baseball’s top prospect, rookie Konnor Griffin, who was appearing in his first major league game. Jared Triolo’s single scored Griffin. Henry Davis’ double brought in Triolo, and Oneil Cruz’s single scored Davis.
Bradish, who lasted 4 2/3 innings in his first start, is 0-2. He struck out six and walked three.
“I think the fastball command is not where he would like it and we would like it,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “Off-speed, the curveball and the slider were pretty good today, but just the fastball command. It looks like it’s just not as sharp as it usually is. That’s something that I feel confident he’ll get back to.”
In 13 previous innings against the Orioles, Pittsburgh starter Mitch Keller (1-0) had allowed a run, striking out 14 and walking one.
Keller pitched four scoreless innings, then allowed two runs in the fifth on RBI doubles by shortstop Gunnar Henderson, who had a three-hit game, and catcher Adley Rutschman.
He allowed two runs on six hits in six innings, walking four and striking out four.
Orioles relief pitcher Dietrich Enns walked three and threw a wild pitch, putting Bryan Reynolds on third, in the sixth. O’Hearn’s sacrifice fly scored Reynolds, and the Pirates led, 5-2.
Taylor Ward’s RBI double scored Blaze Alexander in the seventh. After Yohan Ramírez, who pitched five games for the Orioles in 2024, allowed three of four runners to reach, left-hander Mason Montgomery retired Rutschman on a grounder to short and struck out Samuel Basallo.
Dennis Santana pitched a spotless eighth and still another former Oriole, Gregory Soto, struck out Alexander and Ward and had two strikes against Henderson before he hit his second home run. Soto then struck out Pete Alonso to end the game.
How was Bradish’s start? In seven games, the Orioles have four starts of fewer than five innings, two from Bradish and one each from Chris Bassitt and Zach Eflin.
Bradish knows he’ll have to pitch deeper in games.
“Yeah, it’s very frustrating,” Bradish said of the short starts. Bradish didn’t take any positives from his outing.
“We lost. I got through four, which is not even close to where I need to be at, so, no, not really. Like I said, stuff’s not the problem. It’s execution.”
Alexander’s impressive play: In the bottom of the sixth, Alexander went into foul ground to field Davis’ drive down the third base line. The original call at first base was that Davis was safe, but it was overturned on appeal.
“It’s up there, especially at third. I’d say top three,” Alexander said. “Top three, but I’ve made some cool plays in the outfield and not at third base. But yeah, it was up there. Cool moment, just make a play, just trying to get us back in the dugout, try to get a couple runs.”
Albernaz also thought it was an outstanding play.
“That play was ridiculous,” Albernaz said. “I mean Henry Davis thought it was going to be a double down the line.”
Alexander was 2-for-4, and is batting .400 through the first seven games.
“You’re going to have ups and downs,” he said. “It’s early, seven games in. I don’t think our offense clicked yet how it’s going to. I think it’s going to be a really, really fun team.
“I think we’re going to have some games where we’re hitting around the order, everyone’s bopping. Tip your cap to the Pirates, they pitched well. I think we’ve had good at-bats. We were in that game. One-run ballgame, Gunnar pumped that one and we had Pete at the plate, that’s really all you can ask.”
What does it mean? It’s interesting to watch Albernaz’s use of the bullpen and seeing who is getting into his circle of trust. Tyler Wells pitched two perfect innings and Rico Garcia retired all three batters.
Enns had a rough day. He’s walked five in 4 1/3 innings this season.
“Just bad counts,” Albernaz said. “Not filling up the strike zone. Yeah, that’s it.”
What’s the stat of the day? 10. Garcia retired all three batters to face him in eighth, and he’s set down each of his 10 batters this season.
What’s the word? “He’s a good hitter. He’s up here for a reason, so congrats to him, but it was just a bad pitch.”-Bradish on throwing a slider that Griffin hit for a double.
What’s going on in the minor leagues? In his first start for Triple-A Norfolk, Dean Kremer allowed three runs on three hits in 4 2/3 innings in the Tides’ 5-4 lose to Memphis.
Kremer threw 62 pitches, struck out six and walked two.
Jackson Holliday continued his rehab assignment and was 1-for-5 with two RBIs. Weston Wilson and Jud Fabian homered against Redbirds starter Bruce Zimmermann.
Enrique Bradfield Jr., who was removed from Friday night’s game after he ran into the outfield wall, was not in the lineup.
What’s next? Shane Baz (0-0, 6.75) will start against Carmen Mlodzinski (0-0, 4.15) on Saturday at 4:05 p.m. at PNC Park..
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