Powered by Ryan Mountcastle's grand slam, Orioles beat Pirates

Vince Velasquez made another strong start in his bid to solidify a spot in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ rotation, recording three strikeouts in three scoreless innings before the bullpen gave up a pair of big home runs.

The Baltimore Orioles rode an Austin Hays three-run homer and a Ryan Mountcastle grand slam for a 7-4 win Wednesday afternoon in a Grapefruit League game at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota.

The Pirates signed Velasquez to a one-year, $3.15 million contract in December with the promise of a chance to start. Through five innings in two starts this spring, Velasquez has allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks while striking out five. Opponents are batting .118 against the 30-year-old right-hander.

The Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning when Connor Joe doubled to score Cal Mitchell, but the Orioles answered in the bottom of the inning when Hays hit a three-run shot to right-center off right-handed reliever Colin Holderman.

Baltimore boosted its lead in the fifth against Pirates lefty Jose Hernandez, who was selected from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Rule 5 Draft. The Orioles loaded the bases on singles by Colton Cowser and Adam Frazier and an Adley Rutschman fielder’s choice to third base, where Rodolfo Castro committed an error. Mountcastle followed with the slam to left for a 7-1 lead.

Hernandez has allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits, including two homers, while striking out five and walking one in four appearances this spring.

The Pirates cut it to 7-2 in the seventh when Oneil Cruz singled to right off Reed Garrett to score Jason Delay. Canaan Smith-Njigba drove in a pair of runs with a single to center to make it 7-4 in the eighth.