Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Paul Maholm just threw the first pitch of the Orioles' 2011 Grapefruit League season at 1:07 p.m. at McKechnie Field in Bradenton.
Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy took the first pitch for a ball, but his at-bat ended on a called third strike by plate umpire Wally Bell. Hardy shook his head at Bell in disagreement on his way back to the dugout.
Felix Pie followed the strikeout with a line double just over the head of young Pirates' third baseman Pedro Alvarez. It was a close play at second, but a hustling Pie beat left fielder Jose Tabata's throw.
Mark Reynolds grounded out to second base on a hard hit ball for the second out. However, Vladimir Guerrero plated Pie from third with a scorching grounder that Alvarez did well to get a glove on. However, he had no play on Guerrero, who made it to first without a throw. If you're counting, that's two infield singles for Guerrero in as many days.
Adam Jones ended the inning on a first-pitch groundout.
Brad Bergesen just finished an easy and perfect bottom of the first with a three-pitch strikeout of Andrew McCutchen. Bergesen threw 10 pitches. seven for strikes.
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