Alvarez, Reimold homer against Bucs

Associated Press

BRADENTON, FLA.

Pedro Alvarez and Nolan Reimold hit back-to-back homers for the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday night in a 5-3 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Alvarez went deep in the first inning, his first at-bat at McKechnie Field as a visiting player.

Reimold, a graduate of Sharon’s Kennedy Christian (now Kennedy Catholic) High School, followed with a long shot to left-center off minor league call-up Trevor Williams.

Selected by the Pirates second overall in the 2008 amateur draft, Alvarez signed with the Orioles three weeks ago as a free agent.

He was not in the lineup the previous time the Pirates hosted the Orioles this spring.

“I’m very sensitive to that,” Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said. “When he first got to us, I would never ask him about playing against the Pirates or whatever. We had one opportunity where we didn’t, just to kind of let him get settled in a little bit. I think he’s handled it real well.”

Josh Harrison blooped a two-run triple, one of four hits the Pirates got off right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez in the first inning. Jimenez lasted just two-thirds of an inning, allowing three runs on four hits and a walk. He has a 12.27 ERA.

“I didn’t have good command of the fastball,” Jimenez said. “I was falling behind in the count, and they made me pay for it. You’re never happy to be out of the game in the first inning. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Little League game or a major league game.”

It was the second time this spring Jimenez did not make it out of the first inning. He managed only one out and gave up six runs on March 2 against Atlanta.

STARTING TIME

Orioles: To make up for his abbreviated outing, Jimenez got up three times in the bullpen after he left the game to simulate a longer start.

“I think I threw too many pitches, close to 40,” Jimenez said. “They didn’t want me to go that far, especially in spring training.”

Pirates: Williams worked the first five innings. He allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out five. The right-hander, a non-roster invite to big league camp, likely will begin the season at Triple-A Indianapolis.

“It was a nice surprise to come up here and pitch under the lights,” Williams said.

“When you come into big league camp and look at guys you’ve been watching your entire life, you realize how close you are. It was tangible tonight, getting big leaguers out.”

MORE THAN EXPECTED

Pirates RHP Juan Nicasio threw 98 pitches over six innings in a minor league game. Although he was signed to be a long reliever, Nicasio has performed well enough in camp to be in the mix for a rotation spot.

“I’m happy, no matter what my role,” he said. “My arm is sharp, my body feels strong.”