BRADENTON, Fla. – Baltimore Orioles right-hander Brad Bergesen, eager to put last season’s struggles behind him, tossed two solid innings Monday in a 6-4 victory against a Pittsburgh Pirates split squad.

Bergesen faced seven batters, allowed one hit and got two strikeouts. His performance in the Orioles’ spring training opener was a positive step toward locking up a spot in the starting rotation.

“I want to come in here and do what I’m capable of doing and also prove a point,” Bergesen said.

A rookie standout in 2009, Bergesen last year was hampered by injuries to his leg and shoulder. He was twice sent to the minors and finished the year 8-12 with a 4.98 ERA.

A big reason for Bergesen’s slow start was that he still was recovering from a bruised left shin when he reported to camp.

“Last year I was just rushing myself, just trying to get my arm in enough shape to be able to pitch off a mound, so it didn’t really give me that much time to work on my mechanics or get to where I needed to be,” Bergesen said. “This year, it’s a whole other story. Hopefully, I can have that time like I’ve had so far and get ready for the season the way I want to.”

Paul Maholm, already assured of a job in the Pittsburgh rotation, started for the Pirates. The left-hander worked two innings and gave up two runs on four hits.

“My main thing was to be aggressive in the zone,” Maholm said. “For the most part, that’s how the day went.”

Maholm threw only fastballs and changeups and focused on pitching inside. He struck out two and his sinker induced two groundouts.

“Pitching inside is going to be my focus for the spring and this season,” said Maholm, whose .303 opponents’ batting average was the highest in the majors last year. “I have to throw it with a purpose. You’re not going out there to hit batters, but you have to let them know you’ll come in and take back that part of the plate.”

In his Orioles debut, Vladimir Guerrero had an RBI infield single in his first at-bat. Nolan Reimold homered leading off the second inning.

“A bad sinker,” Maholm said. “I tried to paint it and wasn’t aggressive like I was with the rest of them.”

Lyle Overbay hit a solo homer for the Pirates in the fifth.

Notes: Medical exams on Pirates reliever Joe Beimel’s sore left forearm showed no structural damage. He’ll likely miss only a couple of days. … Pirates left-hander Scott Olsen, in the hunt for a rotation spot, threw a side session. It was Olsen’s third time pitching off the mound since he strained his left hamstring two weeks ago, but he hasn’t yet been cleared to return to game action. … Orioles infield prospect Joe Mahoney was scratched from making the trip. He fouled a ball off his knee during an intrasquad game Sunday.

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP)—Baltimore Orioles right-hander Brad Bergesen(notes), eager to put last season’s struggles behind him, tossed two solid innings Monday in a 6-4 victory against a Pittsburgh Pirates split squad.

Bergesen faced seven batters, allowed one hit and got two strikeouts. His performance in the Orioles’ spring training opener was a positive step toward locking up a spot in the starting rotation.

“I want to come in here and do what I’m capable of doing and also prove a point,” Bergesen said.

A rookie standout in 2009, Bergesen last year was hampered by injuries to his leg and shoulder. He was twice sent to the minors and finished the year 8-12 with a 4.98 ERA.

A big reason for Bergesen’s slow start was that he still was recovering from a bruised left shin when he reported to camp.

“Last year I was just rushing myself, just trying to get my arm in enough shape to be able to pitch off a mound, so it didn’t really give me that much time to work on my mechanics or get to where I needed to be,” Bergesen said. “This year, it’s a whole other story. Hopefully, I can have that time like I’ve had so far and get ready for the season the way I want to.”

Paul Maholm(notes), already assured of a job in the Pittsburgh rotation, started for the Pirates. The left-hander worked two innings and gave up two runs on four hits.

“My main thing was to be aggressive in the zone,” Maholm said. “For the most part, that’s how the day went.”

Maholm threw only fastballs and changeups and focused on pitching inside. He struck out two and his sinker induced two groundouts.

“Pitching inside is going to be my focus for the spring and this season,” said Maholm, whose .303 opponents’ batting average was the highest in the majors last year. “I have to throw it with a purpose. You’re not going out there to hit batters, but you have to let them know you’ll come in and take back that part of the plate.”

In his Orioles debut, Vladimir Guerrero(notes) had an RBI infield single in his first at-bat. Nolan Reimold(notes) homered leading off the second inning.

“A bad sinker,” Maholm said. “I tried to paint it and wasn’t aggressive like I was with the rest of them.”

Lyle Overbay(notes) hit a solo homer for the Pirates in the fifth.

Notes: Medical exams on Pirates reliever Joe Beimel’s(notes) sore left forearm showed no structural damage. He’ll likely miss only a couple of days. … Pirates left-hander Scott Olsen(notes), in the hunt for a rotation spot, threw a side session. It was Olsen’s third time pitching off the mound since he strained his left hamstring two weeks ago, but he hasn’t yet been cleared to return to game action. … Orioles infield prospect Joe Mahoney was scratched from making the trip. He fouled a ball off his knee during an intrasquad game Sunday.

Read More: Matt Diaz (LF – PIT), Garrett Atkins (1B – PIT), Baltimore Orioles

The Pirates beat the Tampa Bay Rays and lost to the Baltimore Orioles today in split-squad Spring Training action.

The Pirates beat the Rays, 6-5. Garrett Atkins hit a three-run homer to lead the Bucs, and Matt Diaz had a double. Bryan Morris started the game and pitched two innings, allowing one run. Rudy Owens pitched two innings in relief for the win, and Sean Gallagher pitched two scoreless innings to collect the save.

The Bucs (a different group of them; both games were going on at the same time) lost to the Orioles, 6-4. Pedro Alvarez went 2-for-3, including a double, and weirdly tried to steal a base (and was caught). Lyle Overbay hit a solo home run, and organizational player Miles Durham hit a two-run jack. Paul Maholm started the game and allowed two runs on four hits in two innings, and Justin Wilson allowed three runs in relief. Jeff Karstens pitched two scoreless innings.

BRADENTON, Fla. — A split squad Pirates team lost, 6-4, to the Baltimore Orioles this afternoon at McKechnie Field.

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez was a brighspot for the club, going 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI.

The Orioles scored a run in each of the first two innings off starter Paul Maholm — in the first on an infield single by Vladimir Guerrero; in the second on a solo home run by Nolan Reimold.

Maholm, by prescription, threw nothing but fastballs and sinkers in his predetermined two-inning outing, never throwing an offspeed pitch.

First baseman Lyle Overbay, who the Pirates signed as a free agent in the offseason, hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth to slice the disadvantage in half at 2-1.

A Craig Tatum infield single off Pirates minor league lefty Jeff Locke in the sixth pushed it to 3-1 in Baltimore’s favor.

For the second consecutive day, the Pirates got a gift from the elements, as a sixth-inning Alvarez infield pop up turned into an adventure — and an RBI single. Alvarez towered a ball to the right side, but because of a wind in excess of 20 mph and a glaring midday sun, Baltimore’s second baseman, Brendan Harris, was unable to field it. The ball fell to the ground and Jose Tabata raced in from second to pull the Pirates within 3-2.

But a three-run eighth inning for the Orioles pulled them away for good, as Pirates minor league lefty Justin Wilson struggled, yielding three earned runs and didn’t make his way out of the inning.

Miles Durham added a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth, but it wasn’t enough.

Pirates (ss) 6, Tampa Bay 5 — Fighting back from a 4-0 deficit, a Pirates split squad defeated Tampa Bay in Port Charlotte today. Garrett Atkins hit a three-run home run for the Pirates and Josh Fields collected an RBI.

NOTE – The club provided an update on left-handed stopper Joe Beimel, who missed his scheduled one-inning appearance on Sunday with arm soreness. Beimel received treatment today. The plan is for him to go through the throwing program tomorrow; his status will then be re-evaluated.

First published on February 28, 2011 at 3:57 pm

BRADENTON, Fla. — A split squad Pirates team lost, 6-4, to the Baltimore Orioles this afternoon at McKechnie Field.

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez was a brighspot for the club, going 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI.

The Orioles scored a run in each of the first two innings off starter Paul Maholm — in the first on an infield single by Vladimir Guerrero; in the second on a solo home run by Nolan Reimold.

Maholm, by prescription, threw nothing but fastballs and sinkers in his predetermined two-inning outing, never throwing an offspeed pitch.

First baseman Lyle Overbay, who the Pirates signed as a free agent in the offseason, hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth to slice the disadvantage in half at 2-1.

A Craig Tatum infield single off Pirates minor league lefty Jeff Locke in the sixth pushed it to 3-1 in Baltimore’s favor.

For the second consecutive day, the Pirates got a gift from the elements, as a sixth-inning Alvarez infield pop up turned into an adventure — and an RBI single. Alvarez towered a ball to the right side, but because of a wind in excess of 20 mph and a glaring midday sun, Baltimore’s second baseman, Brendan Harris, was unable to field it. The ball fell to the ground and Jose Tabata raced in from second to pull the Pirates within 3-2.

But a three-run eighth inning for the Orioles pulled them away for good, as Pirates minor league lefty Justin Wilson struggled, yielding three earned runs and didn’t make his way out of the inning.

Miles Durham added a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth, but it wasn’t enough.

Pirates (ss) 6, Tampa Bay 5 — Fighting back from a 4-0 deficit, a Pirates split squad defeated Tampa Bay in Port Charlotte today. Garrett Atkins hit a three-run home run for the Pirates and Josh Fields collected an RBI.

NOTE – The club provided an update on left-handed stopper Joe Beimel, who missed his scheduled one-inning appearance on Sunday with arm soreness. Beimel received treatment today. The plan is for him to go through the throwing program tomorrow; his status will then be re-evaluated.

First published on February 28, 2011 at 3:57 pm

Although Baltimore Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts returned to action today after battling a sore neck earlier this week, the news wasn’t all positive for the team.

A day after taking batting practice for the first time this spring, first baseman Derrek Lee experienced some soreness in his surgically-repaired right thumb, according to The Baltimore Sun. Lee did not hit today.

Derrek Lee is experiencing some soreness in his right thumb. (AP Photo)

In addition, righthander Justin Duchscherer was shut down for a couple days after he complained of discomfort in his hip. In recent seasons, Duchscherer has had surgery on both hips. In addition to those procedures, he also has had elbow surgery and a bout with depression. As a result, Duchscherer has made just five starts since the 2009 season.