Snider has three-hit game, Chen talks about outing (O's lose 4-2)

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP

Score: Pirates 4, Orioles 2

Recap: Gorkys Hernandez and Alen Hanson had RBI singles off Mark Hendrickson in the eighth to give the Pirates a 4-2 lead. Wei-Yin Chen lasted 3 1/3 innings and allowed two runs and seven hits, with no walks, two strikeouts and a hit batter. He threw 64 pitches, 43 for strikes, by my count. Chen threw 21 pitches in the first and gave up back-to-back doubles to Josh Harrison and Neil Walker to start the game. He escaped a bases-loaded jam in the second, but pinch-hitter Tony Sanchez delivered an RBI single in the fourth to chase Chen. Steve Pearce homered for the second time in two days, a two-run shot in the sixth off Antonio Bastardo to tie the game. Mike Wright struck out three and allowed only one hit in 2 2/3 scoreless innings. Steve Johnson allowed one hit and struck out two in the seventh.

Need to know: Pearce's home run makes him 8-for-20 with a double, two homers and four RBIs this spring. Josh Harrison popped up a bunt in the fourth. Manny Machado charged the ball, caught it and fired to first to double off Sanchez. Mike Yastrzemski entered the game in left field and threw out Starling Marte trying to stretch a single into a double. Marte went into the bag standing. Johnson has struck out four batters in his last two innings. Hendrickson has allowed six runs in 3 1/3 innings this spring. Julio Borbon made a sensational diving catch in left-center field to rob Andrew Lambo in the eighth.

On deck: Monday, at Phillies in Clearwater, 1:05 p.m.

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SARASOTA, Fla. - Steve Johnson registered another scoreless inning today for the Orioles, allowing one hit and striking out two.

Johnson has struck out four batters in his last two appearances covering two innings.

Travis Snider has three hits today. He was 4-for-18 coming into the game.

We're still tied 2-2 heading to the top of bottom of the eighth. The Orioles are trying to improve on a 3-10 record that's tied with the Giants for the worst in spring training.

Mark Hendrickson has followed Johnson to the mound. He's allowed four runs and four hits in 2 1/3 innings over three appearances.

Update: Hendrickson surrendered two runs in the eighth on RBI singles by Gorkys Hernandez and Alen Hanson.

The Orioles must decide soon whether to reassign him to minor league camp or let him go. They'd still like for Hendrickson to become a pitching coach in the organization once he's ready to retire.

Wei-Yin Chen continued to use a new grip on his changeup, which more closely resembles a palm ball. He allowed two runs today in 3 1/3 innings.

"My breaking ball and my changeup felt very good today. They were better than the last outing," said Chen, who tossed three scoreless innings with only one hit allowed on March 10 against the Yankees.

"I think I have a better command of the new straight change. I think I have better command now even though I sometimes leave it up in the zone. Still, I think the command is better than the last outing, and even if I sometimes miss a location, the hitters are having some trouble with the timing of it, so I think it's getting better."