Before Feb. 28, Baltimore (5-0), Kansas City (5-0) and the Chicago White Sox (3-0) were the only undefeated teams remaining in Spring Training. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
With two wins in split-squad action on Feb. 27, the Baltimore Orioles extended their winning streak to five games to start the 2013 Spring Training schedule.
The split-squad games were played against division rival Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. Half of the O’s played host to the Sox in a 1 o’clock game at Ed Smith Stadium, while the other half traveled to Tampa to take on the Yanks.
In the matinee match-up, Baltimore trailed Boston, 2-1, entering the sixth inning. In the bottom of the inning, Chris Davis hit his first homer of the spring to give the Orioles a 3-1 lead. The O’s would add two more in the seventh on a two-run Taylor Teagarden single. Boston would get a run back in the eighth, but the birds held on for a 5-3 victory.
Pearce, who was claimed off waivers from the Yankees on Sept. 29, leads the Orioles this spring in hits and RBIs. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
In the night cap, the Orioles scored early and often against New York starter Nik Turley. After allowing five runs in just 1/3 of an inning, Turley was relieved by Cody Eppley who would allow two more runs in the second inning. The Yankees would score four runs in the home half of the second and would add another three in the ninth, but Baltimore would get the win 10-7.
The Oriole offense in the late game was led by Steve Pearce, who went 2-3 with a double and three RBIs. This spring, Pearce has reached base five times in seven plate appearances, driving in a team-high six runs in the process.
The Orioles winning streak would end on Feb. 28 after a 7-1 loss against the Minnesota Twins.
Jair Jurrjens made his first spring start, lasting just one inning while allowing three runs and walking three.
The Orioles would collect eight hits but only managed to score one run. Minnesota was propelled by Joe Mauer, Josh Willingham and Justin Morneau as the 3-4-5 spot hitters, respectively, went a combined 6-7, drawing two walks while recording five RBIs.
On March 1, the Orioles and Pirates are slated to face off in Sarasota, while the World Baseball Classic tournament opens with Australia and Chinese Taipei in Taichung, Taiwan.
