Vince Velasquez gets hit hard as Orioles pummel Pirates in shutout victory

Vince Velasquez signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates for the opportunity to earn a spot in the starting rotation, but a pair of Baltimore Orioles former first-round picks spoiled his start with two-run homers.

Adley Rutschman homered in the first inning and Heston Kjerstad in the second as the Orioles pounded Velasquez for seven runs on seven hits in an 8-0 win over the Pirates on Sunday afternoon in a Grapefruit League game at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota.

Rutschman, the No. 1 overall pick in 2019, followed an Adam Frazier single by hitting his third home run of spring training with a shot to center field that was almost robbed at the fence by Jack Suwinski.

The Orioles added to that lead in the second when Jorge Mateo drew a walk and scored on a Nomar Mazara single to right and an error by Connor Joe. Kjerstad, the No. 2 overall pick in 2020, hit his fourth homer on a line drive to center for a 5-0 lead.

Half of the 22 batters Velasquez faced reached base as he gave up four walks while striking out three in four-plus innings. Velasquez was pulled in the fifth after Ryan Mountcastle doubled and Gunnar Henderson drew a walk.

Velasquez was replaced by Dauri Moreta, who gave up a two-out double to Mazara that scored both runners for a 7-0 Orioles edge. Ryan McKenna’s single to left scored Mazara to make it 8-0, and McKenna advanced on an error by Bryan Reynolds but was out at third on Moreta’s throw to shortstop Oneil Cruz. It marked the first time in seven appearances that Moreta was scored upon.

Pirates starter Roany Contreras returned after pitching for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic and tossed three scoreless innings, allowing three hits but striking out three of the final four.

Luis Ortiz is expected to start Monday against Boston’s Garrett Whitlock when the Pirates visit the Red Sox at 1:05 p.m. in Fort Myers.