Mar 11, 2013 4 min read

Trying to earn a job in the Baltimore Orioles’ rotation, Jake Arrieta struck out five over four scoreless innings and allowed two hits Monday in a 4-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Arrieta, the Orioles’ opening-day starter last year, became the first Baltimore pitcher to throw four innings this spring training.

Left-hander Zach Britton, another of the candidates, allowed one run in two innings of relief, giving up an RBI double to Josh Harrison in the seventh.

Pirates left-hander Jeff Locke, also competing for a rotation job, gave up two runs and eight hits in 3 1-3 innings. The 25-year-old pitched from the stretch most of the day. He threw his two-seam fastball to both sides of the plate, saw progress in his curveball and said his changeup was as good as it’s been this year.

“I think I just have to keep attacking guys at this point,” Locke said. “When the time comes to bring the team north they’re going to bring the best players that are going to give the team the chance to win every night. Obviously, that’s something you want to be a part of, but I have to just keep going out and be myself and do the things I do well.”

Locke was relieved by 26-year-old right-hander Phil Irwin, who could wind up in the rotation or the bullpen. He gave up one run and three hits in 3 2-3 innings with seven strikeouts.

Baltimore’s L.J. Hoes hit a two-out, RBI single in the second and Lew Ford homered in the third.

Brad Hawpe, who played for Pirates manager Clint Hurdle in Colorado and is in camp as a non-roster invitee, homered in the eighth against Daniel Schlereth. The Pirates’ Neil Walker, who was 2-for-16 coming into the game, doubled in the first inning off Arrieta.

Cashman expresses interest in Chipper Jones: Yankees general manager Brian Cashman expressed interest Monday in retired Atlanta Braves star Chipper Jones as New York tries to shore up an injury decimated roster.

Cashman added he didn’t think the 40-year-old Jones, an eight-time All-Star during 19 seasons with the Altanta Braves, will have any interest.

New York is missing third baseman Alex Rodriguez, sidelined until at least July following hip surgery, and first baseman Mark Teixeira, out until May because of a strained tendon in his right wrist.

If Jones could slot in at third, Kevin Youkilis would shift over to first.

Cashman also said that he has talked to 37-year-old Derrek Lee, who hasn’t played since 2011, when he hit .267 with 19 homers and 59 RBIs for Baltimore and Pittsburgh. Lee, a first baseman, appeared to be intrigued by the situation.

“Nothing ventured, nothing gained,” Cashman said.

Netherlands beats Cuba 7-6 to advance at WBC: Kalian Sams drove in the winning run on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Netherlands past Cuba 7-6 Monday and advance to the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic.

The Netherlands will join defending champion Japan in the March 17-19 championship round in San Francisco.

Gonzalez starts for US against Puerto Rico in WBC: Pitching a short drive from his hometown, Gio Gonzalez will start for the United States in the World Baseball Classic on Tuesday against Puerto Rico.

The U.S. rallied with seven runs in the last two innings Sunday to advance by beating Canada 9-4 in Phoenix.

Gonzalez wasn’t with the team for the first round in Arizona. The Washington Nationals’ ace left camp in central Florida before the U.S. game Sunday and made the three-hour drive south.

Gonzalez grew up in Hialeah, Fla., not far from Marlins Park, the site of the second round.

The second round starts with a split doubleheader Tuesday. The Dominican Republic faces Italy in the afternoon, followed by the U.S. against Puerto Rico.

Greinke scratched, heads to LA for elbow exam: Zack Greinke was scratched from his spring training start for the Dodgers on Monday against Milwaukee and went to Los Angeles to have his sore right elbow examined.