In a game that looked more like a football score than a baseball box score, a Pittsburgh Pirates minor-league affiliate absolutely demolished a Baltimore Orioles affiliate 28-1 on Friday in the Florida Complex League.
The Pirates' offense came out swinging from the very first pitch, putting up a five-spot in the opening frame. They never let up, adding two more in the second, then exploding for eight in the fourth and nine in the fifth before tacking on four in the sixth. The game was mercifully called after seven innings.
It wasn't just the bats that made the difference—the Orioles' affiliate essentially beat themselves. Their pitchers walked 11 batters and hit another, while the defense committed seven errors that led to 10 unearned runs. That's the kind of meltdown that keeps coaches up at night.
On the other side, the Pirates' lineup was a well-oiled machine, finishing with 18 hits. They showed off some pop with two home runs, two triples, and three doubles, complemented by 11 singles. It was the kind of balanced attack that makes you wonder if they were wearing their lucky jerseys.
For context, the Florida Complex League is one of the lowest rungs on baseball's minor-league ladder, where players are typically teenagers or just out of their teens. But for one night, this Pirates squad looked like they belonged in the big leagues—while the Orioles affiliate looked like they needed a fresh start and maybe some new gear to turn things around.
