It’s been a strange early season for the Baltimore Orioles. Granted, injuries among other things have played a role. But tonight they got a strong start out of Tomoyuki Sugano, who gave the Birds an opportunity to win. Sugano’s line: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 3 K.
Gunnar Henderson set the tone right off the bat. This meaning literally. His solo home run in the first inning gave the Birds a 1-0 lead. Cleveland would net things up in the third on a solo home run by Schneemann, and on they played in a 1-1 tie.
However Cleveland would go back-to-back with a solo home run by Hedges in the wake of the first one. But their 2-1 lead was short-lived. In fact, they would never be that close again.
This in a good way – from the Orioles’ perspective, that is. Gunnar Henderson smacked a three-run homer in the bottom of the inning. The umpires had to review the play, but it was ruled that the ball was a home run. And there O’s led, 4-2.
Heston Kjerstad would tack on a two-run shot in the last of the sixth, extending the Birds’ lead to 6-2. Seranthony Dominguez and Felix Bautista were solid in the latter innings, shutting Cleveland down. In taking two-of-three, the O’s won their first series of the season. And if you go back to last year, their first series since September of 2024.
Tomorrow the O’s welcome in Cincinnati to Camden Yards for the first of three. Cade Povich gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Cincinnati’s Andrew Abbott. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.
Birdland Crush 