Ynoa on the mound, Mancini homers for O's in Bradenton (updated)

BRADENTON, Fla. - The latest Orioles pitcher to audition for a potential spot in the season-opening rotation is Gabriel Ynoa. The 23-year-old right-hander from the Dominican Republic got the start here this afternoon against the Pirates at LECOM Park.

Ynoa has made three previous spring outings, each time going two innings. Over six frames, he had allowed five hits and two runs (one earned) with one walk and three strikeouts.

Ynoa and the Orioles fell behind Pittsburgh 1-0 in the last of the first. Second baseman Alen Hanson reached on an infield single off Ynoa's leg and advanced to second on a groundout. He scored on John Jaso's two-out bloop hit to left. Ynoa, with his fastball touching 94 and 95 mph on the stadium radar gun, threw 19 pitches the inning, 12 for strikes.

After the Orioles provided Ynoa a 2-1 lead in the top of the second, he retired the Pirates on 14 pitches in the home half of the inning. He allowed a one-out single to left-center to Austin Meadows, but center fielder Logan Schafer threw him out trying for second on a perfect throw right to the bag.

The Orioles moved ahead in the second. First baseman Trey Mancini led off and rocketed a 1-0 pitch from Drew Hutchison out to left-center for the 1-1 tie. For Mancini, who is hitting .343 this spring, it's his second home run. Minutes later, the Orioles had a 2-1 lead. Chris Johnson singled to left, advanced on a groundout and scored on a Paul Janish RBI single. It was Janish's fifth RBI of the spring.

The Orioles scored three runs in the third for a 5-1 lead. Chris Dickerson led off with a walk and reached third on Johnny Giavotella's double. A Hyun Soo Kim sac fly scored a run for a 3-1 lead. The O's added two more in the frame on Chance Sisco's single and an RBI groundout by Johnson.

Ynoa, acquired from the Mets last month for cash considerations, was ranked as New York's No. 9 prospect before the trade to Baltimore. Last year, he went 12-5 with a 3.97 ERA in 25 starts for Triple-A Las Vegas. In 10 games 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 are Pirates are playing for the sixth and last time this spring. The Orioles are 2-0 at home versus Pittsburgh but 0-3 in this park. The Pirates, at 13-6, have one of the best records in the Grapefruit League.

Update: Ynoa went 2 2/3 innings today. He left with the bases loaded and two outs in the third and was replaced by minor league right-hander Micheal Zouzalik. Before Zouzalik threw a pitch, he was called for a balk as the Pirates cut their deficit to 5-2.

Ynoa allowed five hits and two runs with the second run scoring after he left the game. He walked one and fanned three. His unofficial pitch count was at 55 with 34 for strikes.