BALTIMORE — Tyler Wells and the stellar Baltimore bullpen made fast work of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who struggled mightily to get on base and by no means did discover a solution to cross the plate.

Wells pitched seven innings of one-hit ball and the Orioles used dwelling runs by Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson to carve out a 2-0 victory on Saturday evening.

Wells allowed just one baserunner over the primary six innings and retired 17 straight at one level. His efficiency, mixed with a powerful effort by two Baltimore relievers, helped restrict the time of recreation to a brisk 2 hours, 4 minutes.

“I put my slider where I wanted it, put my changeup where I wanted it. My fastball was working as well,” Wells mentioned. “Whenever you have three solid pitches working for you, outings like that happen.”

Wells (3-1) had a career-high eight strikeouts and walked two. The solely baserunner in opposition to the right-hander over the primary six innings got here on a clear, sharp single to left discipline by Carlos Santana to steer off the second.

The Pirates didn’t get one other runner on till Wells walked Santana with two outs within the seventh. Jack Suwinski additionally walked earlier than Miguel Andujar hit a 2-1 pitch to deep proper discipline {that a} leaping Anthony Santander snagged on the wall.

PHOTOS: Wells shines over 7 innings, surging Orioles hit 2 HRs, beat skidding Pirates 2-0

Wells pumped his fist with pleasure earlier than leaving the mound after his 96-pitch masterpiece.

“Their starter did a real nice job,” Pittsburgh supervisor Derek Shelton mentioned. “Cutter, changeup, that combination kept us off balance. We had a chance in the seventh with the ball Miggy hit, but Santander made a really nice play on it.”

Yennier Cano gave up a double within the eighth and Félix Bautista allowed a single within the ninth earlier than placing out the aspect to finish the three-hitter and earn his tenth save in 13 possibilities.

“The back end of their bullpen is elite,” Shelton mentioned. “We knew that coming in.”

Rutschman related within the first inning off Roansy Contreras (3-4) and Henderson went deep within the second after stepping to the plate with a .170 batting common. That was sufficient offense to propel the Orioles to their fourth straight victory and seventeenth in 23 video games.

“Obviously we had a couple of great hits from Gunnar and Adley,” Wells mentioned. “That kind of put us over the top.”

By profitable the primary two video games of this three-game set, Baltimore clinched its ninth collection win within the final 10. The Orioles personal the second-best document within the majors (26-13) behind AL East rival Tampa Bay (30-11).

Pittsburgh has dropped 4 in a row and 11 of 12.

Contreras gave up two runs and 5 hits in seven innings. The right-hander has yielded 4 dwelling runs in his final three begins after maintaining the opposition homerless throughout his first 5 outings.

“He gives up two solo homers, but other than that he was pretty much outstanding,” Shelton mentioned.

Wells was higher.

The Orioles have been managed by bench coach Fredi González, who took over whereas Brandon Hyde attended the commencement of his oldest daughter from Syracuse University.

Not lengthy after the ultimate out, Hyde reached out to congratulate his substitute.

“I already got a text from him,” González mentioned.

NERVOUS FREDI

Although González managed the Florida Marlins and Atlanta Braves for a mixed 10 seasons by 2016, he acknowledged being a bit anxious about calling the photographs rather than Hyde. Asked how he felt on Saturday morning, González mentioned, “I was nervous. I’m not going to lie to you.” He anticipated to be simply tremendous after the primary pitch and vowed to not get ejected as a result of it was unsure who would substitute him.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Pirates: RHP Vince Velasquez (elbow irritation) will throw reside batting observe subsequent week, Shelton mentioned. Velasquez is eligible to return from the injured checklist on May 20.

Orioles: OF Ryan McKenna (sore again) missed a second straight recreation. Uncertain of the severity of the harm, the staff had Joey Ortiz on its taxi squad.

UP NEXT

Right-hander Kyle Gibson (4-2, 4.40 ERA) begins for Baltimore on Sunday within the collection finale. Pittsburgh will begin righty Mitch Keller (4-1, 2.72), who’s coming off his first profession full recreation, a four-hit shutout of Colorado.

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