Pirates Outslugged by Orioles, Fall 5-2 in Home Opener

PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Oneil Cruz and Jared Triolo each homered, but the Pittsburgh Pirates were outslugged by the Baltimore Orioles and were defeated 5-2 in their home opener on Friday.

Jared Jones (1-1) made his second-career start for the Pirates and began his outing by striking out three of the first four batters he faced, but with one out in the second, Ryan O’Hearn hit a solo shot to center to put Baltimore up 1-0. It was the first of three homers in the game for the Orioles. 

The following inning, Gunnar Henderson hit a solo homer to nearly the same spot as O’Hearn’s, doubling the Orioles’ lead. Henderson golfed a changeup down and out of the zone for his second home run this year. 

Jones had a runner in scoring position with nobody out in both the fifth and sixth innings but prevented the Orioles (5-2) from extending their lead in either instance. 

Despite the pair of solo homers, it was another strong outing for the 22-year-old. Jones allowed just the two runs across six innings pitched. He allowed six hits, didn’t walk a batter and sat down seven batters on strikes. Jones induced 21 swings and misses after generating 22 in his debut against the Marlins. 

Baltimore struck for a pair of runs in the seventh inning against the Pirates’ bullpen. Adley Rutschman singled home Ramón Urías, who just beat the throw home from left fielder Jack Suwinski. Anthony Santander followed with an RBI-double against Hunter Stratton, though both runs in the inning were charged to Ryan Borucki, who came into the game in relief of Jones.

Cedric Mullins homered off of Stratton in the top of the eighth inning to pad the Orioles’ lead.

Cruz got the Pirates (6-2) on the board in the bottom fifth inning with a solo homer off of Grayson Rodriguez (2-0) Cruz’s second homer of the year was his third hit of the game after hitting singles in his first two trips to the plate. 

We’re the reporter. He’s the news. pic.twitter.com/nGhP46Av85

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 5, 2024

Triolo ambushed Rodriguez to begin the top of the seventh inning, taking a first-pitch fastball over the left-center field fence to make the score 4-2.

Jared Triolo's first of the season! 💥 pic.twitter.com/XyJYn9CxpT

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 5, 2024

Rodriguez struck out Michael A. Taylor following Triolo’s homer before Orioles manager Bandon Hyde went to the bullpen. Rodriguez allowed two runs on six hits in 6.1 innings and struck out seven. 

Ke’Bryan Hayes had a pair of hits and reached base safely three times in the loss. Outside of Hayes, Triolo and Cruz, the other six starters in the Pirates’  lineup were 0 for 23. As a team, the Pirates were outhit 12-6 by the Orioles. 

Up Next

The Pirates and Orioles will continue their series on Saturday. Left-hander Bailey Falter (0-0, 13.50 ERA)  will look for better results in his second start. He’ll be opposed by right-hander Tyler Wells (0-1, 4.50 ERA). First pitch: 4:05 ET. 

Housekeeping

• The pregame festivities included Hayes receiving his Gold Glove Award and Hall of Fame manager Jim Leyland throwing out the ceremonial first pitch to Derek Shelton.
• The announced attendance was 38,400 — a sellout.