Baltimore Orioles: Big night for Samuel Basallo

Presumed reliever Matt Bowman took to the mound tonight for the Baltimore Orioles in Bradenton against Pittsburgh. Keep in mind, folks, the idea is to get guys innings in the spring. There’s no rotation in spring training, so sometimes relievers will end up starting games – especially on the road. Bowman’s line: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K.

Bowman was strong – yes, in a starting role. For one game, at least. Bowman, a Chevy Chase, MD native, stabilized things out of the gate. The idea for a pitcher is to keep the opposition off the board. Bowman did that.

The Orioles sent Daz Cameron to the plate with two on in the second, and his two-RBI single gave them a 2-0 lead. Jordan Westburg would clean up what the Birds still had on base later in the inning, extending the lead to 3-0 with an RBI-single.

Pittsburgh would get an RBI-double from Suwinsky, and an RBI-single from Reynolds in the last of the third. If you’re keeping score, that cut the Orioles’ lead to one. This at 3-2.

However it was the final splurge of Oriole rubs that’ll have fans talking. Catcher Samuel Basallo is a top 15 prospect in MLB, and the top prospect overall in the Oriole farm system. And he made his presence known to Pittsburgh in a big way.

Basallo’s three-run home run in the top of the fifth opened up a 6-2 Oriole lead. Needless to say, the Birds tacked on some runs late. But the fact that it was off the bat of Basallo is meaningful. He gives the Birds a lot of leverage in their farm system.

Pittsburgh would tack on an RBI-single in the end, but the Birds cruised to a 6-3 win. This on the road, in Bradenton against Pittsburgh. But again, wins and losses are meaningless at this stage.

The Orioles now head to Tampa tomorrow to take on the New York Yankees at Steinbrenner Field. Albert Suarez gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by New York’s Clarke Schmidt. Game time is set for just after 1 PM,

Baltimore Orioles: Tomoyuki Sugano sharp in Birds’ win

The Baltimore Orioles sent Tomoyuki Sugano to the mound this afternoon in Sarasota against Minnesota. And Sugano showed why the Orioles signed him, and are so excited about him. Similar to Charlie Morton yesterday (albeit in a losing effort), Sugano was crisp. Sugano’s line: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K.

The O’s took an early lead when Adley Rutschman hit into a fielder’s choice with two runners on in the third. However Minnesota first baseman Julien committed a throwing error, and two runs scored. Everyone was safe, as they say. Later in the inning Ryan O’Hearn’s RBI-single extended the lead to 3-0.

Minnesota would get on the board in the fourth on a wind-aided solo home run by Wallner. However the Orioles struck right back. Jackson Holliday’s RBI-single extended the lead to 4-1.

Minnesota would tack on two additional solo home runs in the fifth. One wind-aided, and one legit. And the Oriole bullpen held the rest of the way, giving the home standing Birds a 4-3 win.

However the takeaway from this game should be Sugano, who had a very strong outing. With as many injury concerns as the pitching staff is shaping up to have this year at the beginning, he really needs to be able to make a name for himself in the rotation. If today is any indication, he will.

The O’s head to Bradenton tomorrow night to take on Pittsburgh at Lecom Park. Matt Bowman gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Pittsburgh’s Mitch Keller. Game time is set for just after 6 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Seranthony Dominguez’s five-run seventh sinks the Birds

Charlie Morton looked strong this afternoon in Sarasota for the Baltimore Orioles. With Grayson Rodriguez looking to be starting the season on the IL, Morton’s going to need to have a strong start to the season. He took a step towards that today. Morton’s line: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K.

Save for the one walk, Morton was crisp. And that’s what you look for out of a starter at any stage of the game. But especially in spring training given the aforementioned injury problems. And he got a little bit of run support, as the O’s took a 1-0 lead in the third on Adley Rutschman’s RBI-single.

Backing up an inning however, the O’s ran themselves out of a big inning in the second. Thanks to a Tampa error, the Birds had the bases loaded with nobody out. Emmanuel Rivera popped up a flair to right which was caught. Colton Cowser tried to tag from third and score, but was thrown out at home plate – resulting in a double-play.

If that’s the product of it being an exhibition game (and I suspect it was), that’s one thing. However I would hope Cowser wouldn’t try to score on a pop that shallow in the regular season. Those are situations of which you need to take advantage, as opposed to risking the waste of an out. That changed the compass of the inning.

The Orioles brought in Seranthony Dominguez in the seventh, and promptly coughed up the lead. Following a lead off triple, Seymour’s RBI-single tied the game at one. Following back-to-back RBI-doubles, Tampa led 3-1. And in the wake of that, Morgan smacked a two-run pinch-hit home run, and the O’s trailed, 5-1.

That’s not exactly the outing one would have wanted from a guy for whom the Orioles traded last year. And was inconsistent at times as an Oriole in the second half. But that’s why they play these games in a sense. However it also reiterates what I said above…

…you can’t waste outs. The Orioles did in the second inning. Tampa took advantage of the opportunities they got in the latter stages of the game. And they took it a step further as Misner led off the ninth with a solo homer.

The Orioles did get two back. Following a walk in the last of the ninth, Jeremiah Jackson’s two-run homer cut the lead to 6-3. End of the day, it’s a loss. In a spring game. But as I said, the Birds did get a strong showing by Charlie Morton. And that’s meaningful.

The Orioles will stay in Sarasota to welcome in Minnesota to Ed Smith Stadium tomorrow. Tomoyuki Sugano gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Minnesota’s Simeon Richardson. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Seranthony Dominguez’s five-run seventh sinks the Birds

Charlie Morton looked strong this afternoon in Sarasota for the Baltimore Orioles. With Grayson Rodriguez looking to be starting the season on the IL, Morton’s going to need to have a strong start to the season. He took a step towards that today. Morton’s line: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K.

Save for the one walk, Morton was crisp. And that’s what you look for out of a starter at any stage of the game. But especially in spring training given the aforementioned injury problems. And he got a little bit of run support, as the O’s took a 1-0 lead in the third on Adley Rutschman’s RBI-single.

Backing up an inning however, the O’s ran themselves out of a big inning in the second. Thanks to a Tampa error, the Birds had the bases loaded with nobody out. Emmanuel Rivera popped up a flair to right which was caught. Colton Cowser tried to tag from third and score, but was thrown out at home plate – resulting in a double-play.

If that’s the product of it being an exhibition game (and I suspect it was), that’s one thing. However I would hope Cowser wouldn’t try to score on a pop that shallow in the regular season. Those are situations of which you need to take advantage, as opposed to risking the waste of an out. That changed the compass of the inning.

The Orioles brought in Seranthony Dominguez in the seventh, and promptly coughed up the lead. Following a lead off triple, Seymour’s RBI-single tied the game at one. Following back-to-back RBI-doubles, Tampa led 3-1. And in the wake of that, Morgan smacked a two-run pinch-hit home run, and the O’s trailed, 5-1.

That’s not exactly the outing one would have wanted from a guy for whom the Orioles traded last year. And was inconsistent at times as an Oriole in the second half. But that’s why they play these games in a sense. However it also reiterates what I said above…

…you can’t waste outs. The Orioles did in the second inning. Tampa took advantage of the opportunities they got in the latter stages of the game. And they took it a step further as Misner led off the ninth with a solo homer.

The Orioles did get two back. Following a walk in the last of the ninth, Jeremiah Jackson’s two-run homer cut the lead to 6-3. End of the day, it’s a loss. In a spring game. But as I said, the Birds did get a strong showing by Charlie Morton. And that’s meaningful.

The Orioles will stay in Sarasota to welcome in Minnesota to Ed Smith Stadium tomorrow. Tomoyuki Sugano gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Minnesota’s Simeon Richardson. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Birds fall to Bucco’s as questions persist about rotation

Presumed Baltimore Orioles’ Opening Day starter Zach Eflin got the ball tonight in a starting role against Pittsburgh at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota. I say presumed because the rotation hasn’t been set yet. But it stands to reason that it could be Eflin – pending the rest of the spring. Eflin’s line: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 0 K.

It’s easy to say that Eflin was ineffective. Maybe he was. But I always caution fans in the spring; guys sometimes go into these games honing one skill. It’s possible that he was focusing on one pitch or one move – and that only. There may well have been no game plan.

Pittsburgh put an early run on the board with a sac fly-RBI by Valdez in the second. However the Orioles’ Luis Valdez tied things back up at one in the bottom of the inning on an RBI-groundout. The third and fourth innings would tack on three more for Pittsburgh, one on a sac fly-RBI, one on an RBI-single by Rodriguez, and the last on a Pass Ball by Gary Sanchez.

But the Orioles battled back – at least as much as a team can or is necessary in Spring Training. Luis Vasquez’s sac fly-RBI in the last of the fourth cut the lead to 4-2. However Ryan O’Hearn’s two-RBI single later in the inning tied the game at five. Cedric Mullins would later score on a Pass Ball, and the Birds held a 5-4 lead.

However Pittsburgh immediately tied it in the fifth on a sac fly-RBI. They would later put four runs on the board in the eighth and ninth, including a solo homer by Peguero. However the more incriminating part was in the ninth when Pittsburgh’s Delay smacked a bases-clearing bloop RBI-single. Terrin Vavra stopped to argue a call on the base paths, and forgot to throw the relay home to get the trail runner.

That’s the sort of thing that’ll stand out to Brandon Hyde and his coaching staff. You can’t argue with the umpires while the ball is in play. If that had been a tie game in the regular season, it would cost the O’s the game.

More concerning that any of that however is the news about starter Grayson Rodriguez. He was pulled after “not feeling like himself” last week in a spring game, and today was reported to be feeling triceps soreness. Combine that with Gunnar Henderson’s injured intercostal muscle, and it appears that the Orioles are picking up where they left off last year regarding injuries.

Jordan Westburg was back in the lineup tonight after back spasms – so that’s good. However keep in mind that one reason perhaps that the Birds weren’t too aggressive with on the free agent market this off season with regard to starting pitching was due to Grayson Rodriguez. You’ll remember that the team shut him down early following his injury earlier in the summer.

Needless to say, this could be a huge problem. Should they have been more aggressive? Hindsight is always 20/20. It’s unfair to judge after the fact. But that aside, they have to hope that Rodriguez is able to go once the regular season starts.

Gunnar Henderson’s injury could require up to six weeks of rest. Notice I stress the COULD. They just have to see how he responds to treatment and rest. There’s also a chance he starts the season as the starting SS. It’s really a wait and see sort of game. Luckily the Orioles and their system are stacked.

The Birds head to Lakeland tomorrow to take on Detroit at Joker Marchant Stadium. Dean Kremer gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Detroit’s Keider Montero. Game time is set for just after 6 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Things can happen when runners get on base

Dean Kremer was strong for the Baltimore Orioles this afternoon against Philadelphia in Clearwater. Pitching against most of Philadelphia’s starting team, Kremer was dominant in the short amount of time he was in the game. And on that note, keep in mind that managers usually build up starters to going five or six plus innings as the spring goes on. Kremer’s line: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K.

Top prospect and catcher Samuel Basallo led off the third inning and reached on catcher’s interference. That’s seemingly a minor moment, however it’s also a reminder that things can happen when guys find a way to get on base. After a strikeout, a Ramon Laureano single, a Jackson Holliday groundout, and a walk, the bases were loaded.

That brought Colton Cowser to the plate, and his two-RBI single gave the O’s a 2-0 lead. Again, that rally began with a runner reaching on catcher’s interference. Seems fairly inconsequential. But when people get on base anything can happen.

Philadelphia would get solo homers from Bohm and Mercado in the fourth and fifth respectively, tying the game at two. Bohm struck again with a solo home run in the sixth, giving Philadelphia a 3-2 lead. However an inning later it was tied again on an RBI-single by Livan Soto.

That also left a runner at third base in the form of Samuel Basallo, who broke for home when Soto tried to steal second base. And he was safe due to an errant throw. Again, get guys on base and things can happen.

Sadly for the O’s on this day however, that premise also was a part of them losing the game. Philadelphia loaded the bases with two outs in the last of the ninth. And a two-RBI single by Kroon walked the O’s off on this day in Clearwater, as they fell 5-4.

The Birds return home to Sarasota tomorrow as Boston comes into Ed Smith Stadium. Charlie Morton gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Hunter Dobbins. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Cade Povich strong but Birds fall late to Bucco’s

Cade Povich had an outstanding start this afternoon for the Baltimore Orioles against Pittsburgh at Ed Smith Stadium. It’s unclear whether Povich has a spot in the starting rotation as camp turns, but he does if he pitches like this the rest of the way. Povich’s line: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K.

At first it looked like Povich was going to get some decent run support also. The Birds put two runners on with an out in the first after Povich struck out three to open the game. Ryan Mountcastle grounded into what should have been a force out, however the out was never recorded due to a throwing error. Adley Rutschman scored from second, and the O’s led 1-0.

However after two solo homers in the fourth off Seranthony Dominguez, the Birds trailed 2-1. To be clear, solo home runs won’t beat you – generally. And the first of the two was severely wind-aided. In a regular big league ballpark in a regular season game, that’s a long fly ball out.

Luis Vasquez’s RBI-double in the bottom of the inning would tie the game back up at two. However neither side could muster much going forward in this spring game – until the ninth. Pittsburgh got a solo homer from Stewart, and a two-run shot from Gorski in the top of the ninth. And the O’s finished the game 5-2 losers in Sarasota.

For what it’s worth, Gregory Soto looked strong as well in the fifth inning. However the main takeaway from today’s game should be Cade Povich. It was only three innings. But if you’re going to get toned up in these games, you may as well look good doing it.

The O’s head to Clearwater tomorrow to take on Philadelphia at BayCare Ballpark. Dean Kremer gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sanchez. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles seal the deal with eight-run ninth

Zach Eflin pitched two innings for the Baltimore Orioles this afternoon against Minnesota. Not terrible results for Eflin, who’s of course in his first spring training in the orange and black. Eflin’s line: 2.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 K.

Minnesota led 5-0 before the Birds even got on the board. Lee’s RBI-single in the second (off of Eflin) got them going. A two-run homer by Larnach, and RBI-singles by Jeffers and Miranda in the last of the third put the O’s in the hole. However the O’s made a run of it.

Heston Kjerstad’s RBI-single in the fourth got the Orioles on the scoreboard. But Larnach continued his hot game with an RBI-single in the bottom of the inning, extending the lead to 6-1. However, even if at a weakened state due to the regulars staying back in Sarasota, these are still the Orioles…

…and the Orioles smack home runs. Jackson Holliday would smack a two-run shot in the fifth, cutting the lead to 6-3. However Minnesota would tack on, and after a Vimael Machin RBI-single in the seventh, closed the Orioles out with a 10-6 loss…almost. Had you stopped following, that’s how you would have thought it ended.

Machin would add another RBI-single in the ninth, followed by an RBI-double by Maverick Handley. Before you knew it, the O’s had the tying run in scoring position. And Jud Fabian didn’t disappoint – his two-RBI double tied the game at ten.

Later in that ninth inning with a man on, Dylan Beavers’ two-run homer would give the Birds their first lead of the day at 12-10. Jeremiah Jackson would follow with a solo shot, running the final to 13-10. Granted it’s meaningless and the record is still 0-0 on the season. Not to mention that the reserves were in the game by its end. But that’s a heck of a comeback.

The big news of course came yesterday when it was announced that Gunnar Henderson had injured his lower right side yesterday, and it was revealed that Jordan Westburg was dealing with an injury as well. Both are being held out.

The good news is nobody’s getting an MRI – as of now. And I highly doubt this will be anything more than a few more games missed. But after the injuries this team sustained last season, it’s concerning.

And I would submit that the lineup never recovered after the Jordan Westburg injury. Oriole bats could never quite recover. So injuries (especially to Westburg) at this stage are concerning. But end of the day, nobody’s going to take pity on you. They’ll only be happy you have the problems you do.

The Orioles return home to Sarasota tomorrow to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates at Ed Smith Stadium. Cade Povich gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Cade Povich strong in Birds’ first win

The Baltimore Orioles won their first game in the spring this afternoon against Philadelphia. Cade Povich gave the Birds a strong outing out of the gate, allowing only one base runner, by way of a fielding error. Povich’s line: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.

Povich was “crisp” all afternoon – throughout his two innings that is. And the Orioles gave him a lead before he even took the mound. Following a hit batsman, a walk, and a wild pitch, Coby Mayo’s two-run single gave them a 2-0 lead. Vimael Manchin would extend it to 3-0 with a second inning solo home run. And the O’s were off to the races.

Philadelphia would get in the board in the last of the third on Arroyo’s solo home run. However Machin would strike again in the fourth. His RBI-single out the O’s in the lead at 4-1. Emmanuel Rivera would extend it to 5-1 in the fifth with an RBI-single of his own. Jordyn Adams’ fielder’s choice-RBI in the seventh would tack on another.

Philadelphia tried to rally in the bottom of the inning however, as Ricones’ two-run homer cut the Orioles’ lead in half at 6-3. However the pen would keep things right there, until Adams could come back up in the ninth and add an RBI-single. The Birds went home today, 7-3 winners.

Again, wins and losses don’t matter for now. What sort of opportunity Cade Povich has to start the season in the majors with the Orioles is unclear. But he atoned for himself very well in his short outing today, which is the real story of today’s game for the Orioles. Granted they were missing Bryce Harper today, but Cade Povich was dominant over two innings against a stacked lineup.

The O’s return home to Sarasota tomorrow as Atlanta comes into Ed Smith Stadium. Dean Kremer gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Atlanta’s Reynaldo Lopez. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles drop spring opener

The Baltimore Orioles had slated Albert Suarez to pitch two innings in this afternoon’s spring opener against Pittsburgh at Ed Smith Stadium. He didn’t quite make it to that threshold, and it’s easy to look at the results and say that it was a poor outing. Needless to say, it wasn’t perfect. Suarez’s line: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 0 K.

In both the first and second innings, Suarez quickly recorded the first two outs. But he struggled with two out, which was a biggish storyline for all Oriole pitchers last season. Heck, it’s been a storyline for years. However in the first spring game, you hang on the positives – he had no issue getting to two outs, and his velocity was strong.

Suárez issued a double, a walk, and uncorked a wild pitch in the first. Stewart’s two-run double then gave Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead. The O’s would put a couple on in the last of the second, and Ryan Mountcastle would score on a wild pitch. Just another reminder that when you get guys on base, good things can happen.

Ramon Laureano’s run-scoring single would tie the game at two. However Stewart’s return to Ed Smith Stadium wasn’t about to be spoiled – he was a top Oriole draft pick, after all. He smacked a wind-aided homer in the third, putting Pittsburgh back in the lead at 3-2.

Again though, get guys on base and good things can ensue. Dylan Carlson would add a sac fly-RBI in the fourth to the game at three. But Pittsburgh wasn’t about to mess around in this spring opener. Gorski’s two-run homer would give them a 5-3 lead in the sixth. Solak’s RBI-single in the eighth would extend it to 6-5.

However a familiar name from last year would tick the Birds to within one in the eighth. Emmanuel Rivera’s two-run homer cut the Pittsburgh lead to 6-5. Granted, you can’t use the term “clutch” because it’s spring training. But in the grand scheme of a game when you’re down three late, that was a clutch homer.

However Pittsburgh would load the bases in the ninth, bringing Gorski back to the plate. And he haunted the O’s again, launching a grand slam into the left field grandstand, sending the O’s down to defeat, 10-5.

Interestingly, the O’s were almost in a different spot in the inning. They had what would have been a fielder’s choice, but Emmanuel Rivera couldn’t find the bag on a throw. That loaded the bases, resulting in the grand slam. Attention to detail.

I would say it was a “disjointed” performance for the Orioles today. That’s also a good way to describe Suarez’s outing, and we know it begins and ends with starting pitching. One thing I did find curious is how sparingly Brandon Hyde used his regulars. Adley Rutschman didn’t even play today, and the Gunnar Henderson’s and Jordan Westburg’s of the world only had two at-bat’s.

Granted part of the reason why is that it’s an exhibition game. But I suppose I was expecting guys to last longer than two at-bats. However manager Brandon Hyde has a plan. That goes without saying.

The O’s head to Clearwater tomorrow to take on Philadelphia at BayCare Ballpark. Cade Povich gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Philadelphia’s Tyler Phillips. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.