Samuel Basallo caps superb month as Orioles complete resurgent homestand

Watching Samuel Basallo this month was watching exactly what the Orioles hoped for when they signed this young catcher to a contract extension last season, shortly after his debut.

Basallo is 21. Still raw. Still growing into his potential. But, with two more hits during Baltimore’s 9-5 victory against the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday, Basallo capped a superb month that showed how much of a threat he already is.

As part of a robust offensive showing, Basallo’s two-hit day capped a remarkable May. He hit .338 with four home runs and six doubles. That increased his monthlong on-base-plus-slugging percentage to .948 — and how carefully right-hander Spencer Miles pitched around Basallo for a second-inning walk is emblematic of the foreboding nature with which pitchers face Basallo.

“It’s been a joy to watch,” manager Craig Albernaz said, “and the future’s bright.”

This hot stretch extends beyond the helpful confines of a one-month sample, of course. Since April 22, Basallo has hit safely in 20 of his 24 starts. In that time, his average is .356.

“He’s a freak,” outfielder Colton Cowser said. “He’s someone who has a stupid amount of juice and really knows what he’s doing, really knows zone awareness, knows what he does well and is extremely good at it. But also he’s good enough where, even when he’s not timed up for something, he’s still able to get the barrel on it and it can go a long way. Really encouraging to see that, and it’s something this team needs.”

The team’s offensive surge, which included a three-run homer from Cowser to break the game open, gave right-hander Kyle Bradish room to work. He dazzled, producing a seven-inning performance with one unearned run against him. Bradish’s ERA is 3.44 as a result of his fifth straight strong start.

The all-around showing capped a resurgent homestand for the Orioles. Baltimore finished this 10-game stretch at Camden Yards with a 7-3 record, although the Orioles remain four games below .500 (28-32).

A little more than a week ago, first baseman Pete Alonso called this homestand a “beautiful opportunity” for a turnaround. It wasn’t a perfect stretch, by any means, but much worked out better for the Orioles.

At the end of this game, Baltimore finds itself one game back of the wild card.

Much of this was built on the back of improvement from the rotation. Orioles starters produced 60 innings with 17 earned runs this homestand — a 2.55 ERA.

“Our starting pitching all homestand was awesome,” Albernaz said.

The Orioles split the four-game series against Toronto. After losing one-run games Thursday and Friday, Baltimore responded with a late comeback Saturday and a comfortable win Sunday. The four runs against right-hander Tyler Wells, which included a three-run homer from Yohendrick Piñango that reached Eutaw Street, narrowed the score of what had been a game long over.

The most bizarre moment of the game, however, came when Blue Jays right fielder Jesús Sánchez exited after he was hit by a ball thrown from the stands. It appears to have been an accidental miscommunication. Sánchez raised his glove during a break in play. After he turned away, the throw struck his wrist.

Otherwise, however, the Orioles and Bradish were dominant. The Orioles built that lead with five runs in the third and three in the sixth, which included an RBI double from Gunnar Henderson.

But so often now Basallo is a force in the center of the lineup. He did it again Sunday, reaching base three times for the second straight game — the first time in his career he’s done so consecutively.

“It’s a real at-bat,” Albernaz said. “We’re asking a lot of a young hitter to hit in the middle of our order, hitting five pretty much every time, hitting behind Pete, it’s not an easy task. But Sammy’s at-bat quality, can really hit the ball the other way, stays in against lefties, and obviously his power to all parts of the field.”

This article has been updated.