Orioles get early lead in Norfolk (O's and Tides tie 3-3)

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP

Score: Orioles 3, Tides 3

Recap: The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third on J.J. Hardy's second spring homer. He hit one out to left off right-handed starter Brandon Barker, who will likely start for Double-A Bowie this season. Barker allowed two hits and one run over four innings. ... The Tides took a 2-1 lead on Francisco Peña's pinch-hit two-run double in the last of the sixth off Joe Gunkel. ... The O's tied it up 2-2 on Ryan Flaherty's bases-loaded groundout in the top of the seventh. ... O's starter Richard Bleier pitched two scoreless and Zach Stewart added two more. ... Lucas Long went three innings, allowing one run for the Tides.

Need to know: It was pretty remarkable that they played this game considering it poured all morning in the Norfolk area and at one time there were large pools of water in left and right fields. The Tides staff did a great job preparing the field. ... Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop turned a nifty 5-4-3 double play in the third against Johnny Giavotella. ... Attendance was 8,729 at Harbor Park. That was a pretty solid crowd considering the very iffy weather outlook for much of Friday.

On deck: Opening day, Monday vs. Blue Jays at Camden Yards, 3:05 p.m. on MASN2

___________________________________________

NORFOLK, Va. - For the Orioles, it is their final exhibition game of a long spring training and they hold a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning against their Triple-A Norfolk affiliate at Harbor Park.

Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third. He turned on a pitch from right-hander Brandon Barker, got it into a gusting wind blowing toward left field and it carried over the wall for a 1-0 lead. For Hardy, who was batting .172 at gametime, it was his second spring home run.

Left-hander Richard Bleier made the start for the Orioles and pitched two scoreless frames. He allowed one hit - a single to Chance Sisco - with no walks and one strikeout.

Bleier pitched in five games for the Orioles during spring training with an ERA of 3.86. Over seven innings, he has allowed 10 hits and three runs with one walk and four strikeouts. The Orioles acquired Bleier from the New York Yankees on Feb. 21 for a player to be named.

Zach Stewart came on to pitch in the third for the Orioles and has thrown two scoreless innings with two strikeouts. The Orioles flashed some leather behind him. Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop combined for a nifty 5-4-3 double play to end the third. Machado made a nice backhand play and threw out Chris Johnson from foul territory in the last of the fourth.

Barker went the first four innings for Norfolk. He allowed two hits and one run with one walk and four strikeouts. Barker is likely to begin this year in the Double-A Bowie rotation.

Update: The Tides now lead 2-1 on Francisco Peña's pinch-hit two-run double to right center off Joe Gunkel in the last of the sixth. It scored Chris Dickerson, who had doubled, and Johnson, who walked.

The Orioles made a host of subs going into the last of the sixth. They included Aneury Tavárez replacing Hyun Soo Kim in left field. Tavárez has reportedly been waived by the Orioles and the Rule 5 pick could eventually end up back with Boston. But as that is in process, he can still play, and he is right now.

Update II: The Orioles tied the Tides 2-2 on Ryan Flaherty's bases-loaded groundout off Lucas Long in the top of the seventh. The O's loaded them up on singles by Trey Mancini and Caleb Joseph and a walk to Tavárez.