You know the Baltimore Orioles are getting close to the end of spring training when night games start getting sprinkled in. Trevor Rogers, the Orioles’ opening day starter next week, was highly effective in what we assume is his final start of the spring – against Pittsburgh at Ed Smith Stadium. Rogers’ line: 5.1 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 7 K.
Rogers was strong throughout his outing. The two surrendered runs scored towards the end of his time in the game. But it was Oriole bats, specifically ONE Oriole bat, which made the difference in the ballgame.
Samuel Basallo gave the Birds a 1-0 lead in the last of the first with a solo home run. One inning later it was Jhonkensy Noel’s turn – his a two-run homer. And the O’s held a 3-0 lead early.
However that first inning home run was only an appetizer. Following a third inning walk, Basallo came up to bat again in the last of the fourth. And he smacked another home run, this one a two-run shot, extending the Orioles’ lead to 5-0.
Pittsburgh would plate two in the fifth, which closed out the scoring in the Orioles’ 5-2 win. They also fell earlier in the day (split-squad day) in Tampa against New York. However Dean Kremer went four plus innings and looked good. However tonight’s game was the Birds’ penultimate game in Sarasota this year.
The O’s head (as a full-squad) to Tampa tomorrow to take on New York at Steinbrenner Field. Zach Eflin gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by New York’s Luis Gil. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.
Birdland Crush 