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BRADENTON, Fla. — Not all decisions made late at night prove to be good ones, but Daniel McCutchen got the result he wanted Wednesday in the Pirates' 3-2 loss to Baltimore at McKechnie Field.

"I know I said I was working on my curveball, but I was lying in bed (Tuesday) night and I decided to bag the curveball and start throwing a slider," McCutchen said. "I threw it (yesterday), and it was good."

So good, in fact, that he just may stick with it for the season.

"We'll see," said last year's team MVP with Triple-A Indianapolis. "If my slider is like it was (yesterday), I'll be fine with just that. I got some outs with the slider. It's a breaking pitch, and that's what I'm looking for."

McCutchen, 27, pitched the fourth and fifth innings and allowed no hits or walks, and struck out two. He said his curveball is good, but he's just not as comfortable with it as he'd like to be at this point in spring training with a job on the line.

"If I was an eight-year vet working on pitches I'd have that opportunity, but right now I need to perform," he said.

Also yesterday, Pedro Alvarez crushed an RBI double to center field in his first at-bat against the Orioles for his third extra-base hit and fourth RBI in seven games and 17 at-bats. He flied out to left field in his next at-bat.

Starting pitcher Zach Duke got the first two outs against the Orioles but gave up a triple and walked two to load the bases. He ended up allowing three runs and four hits, but he settled down and finished with a scoreless inning.

QUOTABLE

"Get out there and face some hitters, and that's what lets you know where you stand." — Pirates pitcher Kevin Hart, on getting his second start of spring training today against the Rays.

Digits

5 — First pitches thrown for strikes by Zach Duke to the 15 batters he faced.

17 — Years since the Orioles last visited McKechnie Field.

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