This Was Not The Same Pittsburgh
The Baltimore Orioles were the Home Opening Day opponents in the 412 on Friday. In what was a raucous environment at PNC Park, the O’s fell 5-4 to the Pittsburgh Pirates (4-3). The atmosphere was higher than it usually is for Opening Day due to the fact that current #1 prospect in baseball, 19 year-old Konnor Griffin, was making his MLB debut. The crowd cheered his every at-bat, from his second inning RBI double, to his fourth inning walk, his successful ABS challenge in the fifth inning to his eighth inning ground out.
Pittsburgh pounced on Baltimore starter Kyle Bradish (0-2) by scoring 4 runs with one out in the second inning. Chased out after the fourth inning, Bradish finished with a line of 4.0 IP, 4 R, 6 H, 3 BB, 6 K on 81 pitches (51 K’s).
Dietrich Enns was ineffective in relief of Bradish, allowing a run on 3 walks and a wild pitch in the fifth inning despite striking out 2.
On the offense side of the ball, three players represented the bulk of the output. Dylan Beavers went 2 for 4 while Blaze Alexander went 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and Gunnar Henderson went 3 for 5 with a double, a homerun, 2 runs scored and 2 RBI.
In the sixth inning Alexander made the defensive highlight of the night when he went to his right to field a Henry Davis ground ball in foul territory and threw to Pete Alonso for the out (confirmed by a Baltimore challenge).
Adley Rutschman and Taylor Ward each doubled and knocked in 1 run.
Appearing to run it back to 2025, the Orioles went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position.
Although the Orioles were not at their best, this appears to be a new era in Pittsburgh.
2026 Record: 3-4
Next Game: Sat. 4/4 @ 4:05 pm at Pittsburgh Pirates