Three consecutive strikeouts to get out of a third-inning jam left the pitcher shouting with joy — and Orioles fans sighing with relief after a difficult few games for last year’s most reliable starter.
In the Orioles’ first 16 games, they have shown impressive offensive firepower. Yet Baltimore has scored just seven more runs than its opponents because of a pitching staff that has proven hit-and-miss. And with a few costly defensive gaffes, there’s still room to grow as the season progresses.
He fought through injuries in the latter part of last season and knows that Double-A will continue to challenge him as a hitter. He’s responded by taking a more refined approach in BP.
The Orioles' top pitching prospects continues figuring out how to handle big-league hitters, and his team registered their sixth comeback win of the young season.
“I think for us, it’s: we’re down but not out,” Rutschman said. “We did a lot of that last year and to be able to do it tonight speaks volumes about the guys we have in this locker room.”
The catcher delivered what he said was his first over-the-fence walk-off home run at any level, driving a home run 405 feet in the ninth inning to give Baltimore an 8-7 win.
Cole Irvin’s “black book” holds notes about each of his outings, and he noticed something he jotted down late in spring training that may hold the key to getting back on track.
Dean Kremer lasted just 4 1/3 innings, putting Baltimore’s bullpen in a tough spot and making it difficult for Brandon Hyde to get favorable matchups as the game slipped away.
The Orioles’ top prospect has made plenty of mistakes, and they’ve hurt him, but that's the point: Only major league hitters are good enough to consistently punish him, so Rodriguez needs to stay up and make adjustments.
Fans came for Grayson Rodriguez’s first start at Camden Yards, but Ryan Mountcastle stole the show with 9 RBIs, including four on a grand slam that traveled 456 feet.
“I like it. I like it a lot. It just kind of allows me to turn my brain off a little bit and just focus, kind of have hyperfocus for a few batters, one inning, one-plus innings, two innings, whatever it might be,” Baumann said.