In cold and dreary weather conditions reminiscent of the time these two teams battled it out in the 1979 World Series at old Three Rivers Stadium, the Orioles were in Pittsburgh on Friday afternoon for the Pirates 2024 home opener at PNC Park.

The Pirates’ 6-1 start on the road raised the excitement level even higher than normal for the Home Opener.

The pre-game festivities included presenting Ke’Bryan Hayes the trophy for winning the 2023 Gold Glove at third base (the first Pirates’ third baseman to ever win the award; and Jim Leyland, the popular former skipper, throwing out the ceremonial first pitch to current manager Derek Shelton.

Furthermore, Jared Jones, the rookie pitcher who struck out 10 batters in five-and-two-thirds inning in his Major League debut last weekend, would be making his second start on the mound.

Jones would be opposing Grayson Rodriguez, like Jones, a talented young pitcher who had a promising rookie season in 2023.

Jones turned in a performance similar to his debut six days earlier, as he pitched six innings, allowing six hits and two runs, while striking out seven batters and walking none. Unfortunately, Jones did not receive the run support he did the previous Saturday.

While Jones’s performance down in Miami was good enough for the win, he took the loss in Pittsburgh on Friday, as the O’s won, 5-2.

That had more to do with Rodriguez and the Pirates’ lack of offensive production than anything else, however. Rodriguez pitched six-and-a-third innings, allowing six hits and two runs, while striking out seven batters and walking two.

Baltimore jumped out to a 2-0 lead on two solo home runs–one by designated hitter Ryan O’Hearn in the second inning and one by centerfielder Gunnar Henderson in the third inning.

The Pirates’ bats came to life a bit in the fifth inning when shortstop Oneil Cruz launched a home run into the right field stands to make it 2-1, visitors.

The Orioles added two more runs in the top of the seventh inning, but second baseman Jared Triolo got one of them back with a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Baltimore got that run right back in the eighth inning and its bullpen held the Pirates’ batters scoreless the rest of the way.

It was a disappointing ending to an exciting day in Pittsburgh, but the Orioles did win over 100 games and the American League Eastern Division in 2023.

It’s probably unfair to base anything on one weekend series in early April, but this talented Baltimore team could be a good barometer to see just how far these young Buccos have come since last season.