The Baltimore Orioles got to Charlie Morton with a variety of weakly-hit balls that either found holes or went over infielders' heads, and drove him from the game after two innings in an 8-3 Pirates loss at PNC Park Monday.
Morton registered three strikeouts in the first inning, but the Orioles sent 10 men to the plate and scored five runs. Even pitcher Jake Arrieta got in on the action lifting a lazy popup to shallow right field that dropped near the foul line.
The Pirates' relievers got through seven innings and allowed only one run, giving the offense a chance to get back into the game, but that's difficult when the team is down 7-0. The Bucs scored one run in the second and two in the fourth, but that wasn't nearly enough.
There were plenty of curiosities surrounding this game. The game broadcast seemed to focus more on the 1971 Pirates, whose World Series victory over the Orioles was being celebrated, than on the game itself. Controversial 2007 draft pick Danny Moskos pitched two innings and faced Orioles catcher Matt Wieters, who went one pick later than Moskos and who many fans thought should have been selected in his place. And little-used infielder Pedro Ciriaco actually played for several innings instead of being glued to the bench.
The Pirates now have a four-game losing streak and are two games below .500. They will play the Orioles again at 7:05 PM Tuesday.