Worley pitches 4 scoreless innings, Pirates top Orioles

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) Vance Worley pitched four scoreless innings, Gorkys Hernandez singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-2 Sunday.

Orioles designated hitter Travis Snider had three singles against his former team.

Worley, who is competing with left-hander Jeff Locke for the Pirates' fifth starter spot, struck out two and allowed two hits.

''I'm doing all right,'' Worley said. ''Would I like to be in the rotation? Absolutely. It's all I know. I've pitched out of the bullpen a couple times, and I'm average at best. Not a great relief guy.''

Josh Harrison and Neil Walker opened the game with back-to-back doubles off Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen. Catcher Tony Sanchez chased Chen in the third inning with an RBI single to left to extend the lead.

Chen went 3 1-3 innings, his longest start of spring training, allowing seven hits and two runs.

''Hot, sticky day,'' Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. ''He got his work in. He would give us a chance to win in the regular season.''

Orioles first baseman Steve Pearce, a former Pirates player, tied the game with a two-run home run off Antonio Bastardo in the sixth inning. The 31-year-old Pearce hit 21 home runs last season - his previous career high was four.

''Truthfully, if we would have seen those signs, we would have kept him,'' Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. ''He poured everything he had out here every day. ... There's nobody happier for him outside of that Oriole clubhouse than his teammates over here and the coaches who had the opportunity to work with him.''

MORNING REPORT

The Pirates and Orioles played to a 2-2 tie in a ''B'' game Sunday morning at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota. Pirates left-hander Francisco Liriano allowed four hits and two runs in four innings.

ROSTER MOVES

Pirates: First baseman Stetson Allie was reassigned to minor league camp.

Orioles: Baltimore optioned infielder Rey Navarro to Triple-A Norfolk and reassigned outfielder Matt Tuiasosopo to minor league camp.

STARTING TIME

Pirates: Worley attributed his success this spring to ''pitch efficiency.'' He has allowed two runs in six innings. ''It's all about throwing strikes,'' he said. ''It's something I didn't do at all last spring - and in 2013, awful.''

Orioles: Chen, who had thrown five scoreless innings prior to Sunday, is experimenting with a new changeup. ''I think I have better command now even though I sometimes leave it up in the zone,'' he said through a translator. ''Still I think the command is better than the last outing.''

TRAINER'S ROOM

Pirates: Center fielder Andrew McCutchen remains day to day with lower body soreness. Catcher Chris Stewart and infielder Brent Morel were out with tweaked hamstrings.

Orioles: Catcher Matt Wieters was 1 for 3 in the ''B'' game. Wieters is set to make his 2015 debut on Tuesday against Minnesota, nine months after Tommy John surgery.

UP NEXT

Pirates: After an off day Monday, Locke is the Pirates' planned starter Tuesday against Houston Astros right-hander Roberto Hernandez.

Orioles: Baltimore will face Philadelphia Phillies ace Cole Hamels Monday in Clearwater. Right-hander Miguel Gonzalez, who signed a one-year deal Feb. 2, will start for the Orioles.