Pirates fall to Orioles
BRADENTON, Fla. — Baltimore Orioles right-hander Brad Bergesen, eager to put last season’s struggles behind him, pitched two solid innings Monday in a 6-4 victory against a Pittsburgh Pirates split squad.
Bergesen faced seven batters, allowed one hit and got two strikeouts. His performance in the Orioles’ spring training opener was a positive step toward locking up a spot in the starting rotation.
A rookie standout in 2009, Bergesen last year was hampered by injuries to his leg and shoulder. He was twice sent to the minors and finished the year 8-12 with a 4.98 ERA.
Paul Maholm, already assured of a job in the Pittsburgh rotation, started for the Pirates. The left-hander worked two innings and gave up two runs on four hits.
“My main thing was to be aggressive in the zone,” Maholm said. “For the most part, that’s how the day went.”
Maholm threw only fastballs and changeups and focused on pitching inside. He struck out two and his sinker induced two groundouts.
“Pitching inside is going to be my focus for the spring and this season,” said Maholm, whose .303 opponents’ batting average was the highest in the majors last year. “I have to throw it with a purpose. You’re not going out there to hit batters, but you have to let them know you’ll come in and take back that part of the plate.”
In his Orioles debut, Vladimir Guerrero had an RBI infield single in his first at-bat. Nolan Reimold homered leading off the second inning.
“A bad sinker,” Maholm said. “I tried to paint it and wasn’t aggressive like I was with the rest of them.”
Lyle Overbay hit a solo homer for the Pirates in the fifth.
Pirates 6, Rays 5
At Port Charlotte, Fla., Garrett Atkins hit a three-run homer Monday, leading a Pittsburgh split squad to a victory over Tampa Bay.
Atkins delivered the big blow in a five-run fourth inning against right-hander Mike Ekstrom. Josh Fields had an RBI single for the Pirates and Chris Snyder scored the decisive run on a wild pitch during an error-filled seventh.
