Henry Davis Smashes Grand Slam in 15-5 Victory Over Orioles
The Pittsburgh Pirates put together an electric and well-rounded performance, defeating the Baltimore Orioles 15-5. The Pirates wasted no time taking control, scoring in each of the first four innings and seven of eight innings overall. Pittsburgh capitalized where they failed yesterday vs. Detroit, scoring late into the ballgame, with 10 runs in the final three innings. Baltimore could not capitalize on Dylan Carlson’s first-inning home run and struggled to get back in the contest after tying things up in the fourth.
Pittsburgh came out swinging, with contributions from nearly every spot in the order. Oneil Cruz led the charge with two hits, two RBIs, and a pair of stolen bases. Ke’Bryan Hayes and Endy Rodríguez also made their presence felt, consistently finding ways to get on base. Jack Suwinski had two RBIs on the day, while Nick Gonzales added a double to the Bucs' extra-base hit total, his third of the spring. The Pirates excelled with runners in scoring position, going 8-for-21, capping off their efforts with a grand slam from Henry Davis. The eighth inning blast gave the team some late-game fireworks to cap off an offensive onslaught.
Carmen Mlodzinski got the start, allowing just two hits and a solo home run while striking out three in three innings. David Bednar struggled in relief, surrendering three runs in a rough inning, but the Pirates’ bullpen quickly bounced back. Wilkin Ramos, Justin Lawrence, and Kyle Nicholas combined for five scoreless innings, preventing Baltimore from garnering any momentum. The Pirates’ defense was solid, turning three double plays and staying sharp throughout.
With an 11-9-1 record, the Pirates continue to build momentum as spring training progresses. The 15-5 victory came on the heels of the team announcing 2024 NL Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes as this year’s opening day starter. As Opening Day inches closer, the team is looking to carry a positive offensive energy into the regular season. Pittsburgh faces Baltimore again next week and has now won three of four spring contests. Pittsburgh still has more to prove and face the 10-9-1 New York Yankees tomorrow at 1:05 pm EST.
