Mitch Keller gave up three runs on four hits for the second consecutive start and surrendered his first home run of spring training Wednesday night against the Baltimore Orioles.
Anthony Santander hit a two-run homer off the Pittsburgh Pirates ace in the first inning. Keller allowed another run in the third, loading the bases on singles by Jorge Mateo and Gunnar Henderson and an Adley Rutschman walk before Mateo scored on a 4-6-3 double play.
The Pirates rallied with a four-run fifth inning before Coby Mayo hit a two-run double off Ryder Ryan in the bottom of the eighth to boost the Orioles to a 6-4 win over the Pirates in a Grapefruit League game at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla.
Keller threw 34 of his 55 pitches for strikes in four innings, his longest outing this spring, and has a 6.75 ERA and 1.75 WHIP in three starts.
After falling behind 3-0, the Pirates got singles from Jared Triolo, Liover Peguero and Alika Williams to load the bases for Joshua Palacios, who drew a bases-loaded walk in his spring training debut after dealing with a lower-leg injury.
Orioles reliever Ryan Watson was called for a balk against Jack Suwinski, allowing Peguero to score to cut it to 3-2. Williams scored to tie it when Suwinski reached on an error, and Jake Lamb drove in Palacios with a single to right field for a 4-3 lead.
Baltimore tied the score in the fifth against Pirates lefty Aroldis Chapman. Ramon Urias singled off Chapman’s glove, reached third on a Henderson double and scored on a single by Rutschman.
The Pirates got scoreless innings from Braxton Ashcraft — who hasn’t allowed a hit in three appearances — and Carmen Mlodzinski, who hasn’t allowed a run in three outings.
The Pirates are off Thursday and play split-squad games Friday, with left-hander Martin Perez facing Minnesota Twins right-hander Louie Varland at LECOM Park in Bradenton and lefty Marco Gonzales facing Atlanta Braves lefty Max Fried in North Port.
