Ynoa on his outing, Britton with scoreless inning (O's win 8-6)

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP

Score: Orioles 8, Pirates 6

Recap: Gabriel Ynoa got the start and a chance to make his pitch for a rotation job. He fared probably a little better than his line looked. He allowed five hits and two runs over 2 2/3 innings. But he gave up a bloop RBI single and a second run scored on Michael Zouzalik's balk. ... Trey Mancini hit his second spring homer, a long shot to left-center in the second. He's batting .351. ... The O's scored three in the third to lead 5-1 then on a Hyun Soo Kim sac fly, Chance Sisco's RBI single and Chris Johnson's RBI groundout. ... Two more runs came in during the eighth, on Alex Castellano's RBI triple and Joey Rickard's run-scoring single.

Need to know: Center fielder Logan Schafer recorded an outfield assist in the second. Austin Meadows singled and Schafer's strong throw was right on the second base bag for the out. ... Ynoa threw 55 pitches, 34 for strikes in his fourth spring outing. ... Paul Janish had two more hits and an RBI, and is 5-for-9 in his last four games. ... Eight Orioles had RBIs. ... This is just Pittsburgh's second home loss and they are 8-2 at LECOM Park.

On deck: Saturday, at Yankees at Tampa, 1:05 p.m.
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BRADENTON, Fla. - Orioles closer Zach Britton made his second spring appearance this afternoon and pitched a scoreless last of the fifth against Pittsburgh.

Britton, who gave up two runs and four hits in an inning on Tuesday in his spring debut, today got two groundouts and a strikeout around a walk. He threw 18 pitches, and his fastball hit 95 and 96 mph on the LECOM Park radar gun. Donnie Hart pitched a scoreless fourth.

Earlier, O's starter Gabriel Ynoa allowed two runs and five hits over 2 2/3 innings for the Orioles, who lead 6-3 in the seventh. Ynoa walked one and fanned three, touching 95 mph several times on the radar gun. He allowed a bloop RBI single in the first to John Jaso. The second run scored on his record came in after he left the game when minor league right-hander Michael Zouzalik balked in a run with the bases loaded.

"I felt well," Ynoa said through translator Ramon Alarcon. "I think I was throwing a good game. Unfortunately, some things happen in the game, but that is just part of the game.

"I felt well with my velocity. It allowed me to throw my breaking pitches off my fastball. My slider was working. Also my sinker to both sides of the plate. And the changeup, as well."

Ynoa is trying to make his case for inclusion in the Orioles' season-opening starting rotation. There is a chance for someone to win a spot with Chris Tillman's ailing shoulder.

"I'm ready for the opportunity," Ynoa said. "Looking forward to earn the spot and I think I'll be ready for the season. I feel that I am definitely making improvements every day, working hard, trying to earn a spot in the rotation."

The 23-year-old Ynoa went 12-5 with a 3.97 ERA in 25 starts for Triple-A Las Vegas last season. In 10 games with the Mets last August and September - his first action in the majors - he went 1-0 with a 6.38 ERA over 18 1/3 innings. That included three starts where he pitched to an ERA of 3.18 over 11 1/3 innings. The Orioles acquired him last month for cash considerations.

The big league experience he gained in 2016 - and pitching well in those starts - provides him some confidence as he tries to win a job in Baltimore now.

"Definitely, last season's experience for me was a really good one," he said. "I'm really trying to keep improving and build off that experience that I had last year. I'll do my work and just let the team make a decision.

"All of my games are very important but as spring training winds down and the seasons comes closer and closer, I know the intensity level becomes higher and higher and it's just more important as the games go on."