Ohlendorf struggles, Walker has two homer night in 11-7 loss

Lyle Overbay and Neil Walker homered back-to-back off of Jake Arrieta in the 1st inning to take a 3-0 lead. But the Pirates pitching staff, lead by Ross Ohlendorf, combined to allow 11 runs on 15 hits in the 11-5 loss to the Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota, Fla., on Thursday evening.

Ohlendorf didn’t give the Pirates much opportunity to stay in the game as he was charged for six runs (five earned) on nine hits with two walks and four strikeouts over 4.2 innings. Four of those runs came from the long ball. Ohlendorf allowed three –Luke Scott, Mark Reynolds and Felix Pie– (He allowed just one homerun over his previous four starts).

Ohlendorf told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, “It is still not as good as I would like it to be, but I still thought it was better than last time. I’ve been up in the zone too much. I feel like I was better today, but still not as good as I need to be. The fourth inning I was really happy with. The third inning, I thought, went pretty well. But I still need to pitch better.”

Two runs scored during Evan Meek’s outing (1.1 innings) but neither were earned as one was charged to Ohlendorf and Pedro Alvarez made a throwing error.

Garrett Olson made his second appearance as a Bucco in the 7th, but it didn’t go as well his first. The Orioles tacked on three more runs on three hits giving Baltimore a 11-4 lead.

After a walk by Overbay and a single by Walker, Alvarez drove in one in the 8^th inning.

Josh Rodriguez hit his first home run of the spring in the ninth inning making it 11-7.

Notes:

• Walker had a big night at the plate while batting cleanup. He went 4-for-4 with two home runs, two RBI and two runs scored.
• It was announced earlier today that Kevin Correia will be the Pirates opening day starter. He will face Ryan Dempster on April 1^st in Chicago. Paul Maholm is slated to pitch the PNC Park home opener on April 7^th. The rotation is as follows: Kevin Correia, Paul Maholm, Ross Ohlendorf, Charlie Morton, James McDonald.
• James McDonald is scheduled to pitch in a minor league game on Saturday. Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports the Pirates are hoping for McDonald to extend his pitch count to 50 pitches. McDonald would then stay in Florida to pitch another minor league game on March 31^st (about 80 pitches). If he suffers no set backs, McDonald would be ready to start on April 6^th in St. Louis.
• Joe Biemel (left elbow) threw a bullpen session today without any issue according to Greg Brown, Pirates Broadcaster.
• With just one week until opening day, expect cuts to be happening very soon. 41 players (10 non-roster) still remain at big league camp.
• Chris Snyder, who was in the lineup for the first time since March 9^th (lower back soreness), caught for five innings today.
• Chris Leroux was the only pitcher that did not allow a hit or run during his outing (one inning).
• Charlie Morton will start Friday against the Rays in Port Charlotte (1:05 start) and is scheduled to throw six innings. Also scheduled to pitch: Joel Hanrahan (one inning), Jose Veras (one inning) and Daniel McCutchen (one inning).