Baltimore Orioles: Coby Mayo’s first spring homer comes in another Birds’ win

The Baltimore Orioles traveled to Atlanta’s spring facility this afternoon and sent starter Dean Kremer to the mound. With them, the Birds brought the league’s best spring record (12-2) – both Grapefruit and Cactus League. What that means is just about nothing. But it shows a level of competition that bodes well for the immediacy of today. Kremer’s line: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 4 K.

Coby Mayo got the start this afternoon at DH for the O’s. Don’t be shocked if Mayo makes the roster outright coming out of camp; either way, he was the DH today. And he got the scoring started with a two-RBI double in the second inning. He would later score on an RBI-single by Kyle Stowers.

Atlanta would net two runs in the third and fourth (one in each inning), cutting the lead to 3-2. But that’s about as close as Atlanta would get against the team with the best spring record in the game. Ramon Urias would smack an RBI-single in the fifth, extending the lead to 5-2. Coby Mayo would come back up and inning later, and delivered his first homer of the spring – a two-run shot.

That home run opened the game up, and the O’s led 6-2. Atlanta would draw slightly closer with a Kilpatrick RBI-single in the seventh. But the Orioles would bat around in the ninth. The ironic thing is they put four runs on the board (batting around), tallying only one hit. That lone hit came on a two-RBI double by John Rhodes. David Banuelos would add a sac fly-RBI, and Daniel Johnson would walk with the bases loaded.

With a 10-3 win, the O’s enhanced MLB’s best spring record to 13-2. But mind you, it’s only that; a spring record. These games don’t count. What counts though is the level of competition, and that’s been outstanding thus far.

The Orioles return home to Sarasota tomorrow as Toronto pays a visit to Ed Smith Stadium. Corbin Burnes gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Toronto’s Devereaux Harrison. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Note: Tomorrow is a split squad day for both the Orioles and Toronto. The Orioles’ “B squad” will travel to TD Ballpark in Dunedin to take on Toronto, with the Orioles throwing Al Suarez against Toronto’s Yusei Kikuchi.

Baltimore Orioles defeat Detroit in Sarasota

Grayson Rodriguez got the start for the Baltimore Orioles tonight at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota against Detroit. It was the Orioles’ third sellout of the spring, on a night that had a lot of buzz in the park. And the “hometown nine” didn’t disappoint. Rodriguez’s line: 3.1 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K.

After Heston Kjerstad reached on a fluky-looking double, he was scored in the last of the third on an RBI-double by Gunnar Henderson. He (Henderson) would later score on an RBI-single by Ryan Mountcastle. After three, the O’s led 2-0.

However Detroit battled back. Rogers solo homer in the top of the second cut the lead in half. But Kolten Wong’s RBI-single in the sixth extended the lead to 3-1. The Birds would also net a run that inning on a wild pitch, scoring Michael Perez. Detroit would put two across in the ninth, but the O’s would eventually take the game, 4-3.

Tomorrow the Birds head to CoolToday Park to take on Atlanta. Dean Kremer get the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Atlanta’s Chris Sale. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Coby Mayo double lifts Birds late

Julio Tehran got the start for the Baltimore Orioles this evening in Sarasota against Pittsburgh. It was the first night game of the spring for the Birds, this at Ed Smith Stadium. Tehran’s line: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K.

Not a bad outing for Tehran. He mixed his pitches fairly well. This over two innings of work, of course.

The O’s took an early 2-0 lead in the last of the first when Anthony Santander smacked a two-run homer. Santander would come up to bat again in the third, this with the bases loaded and nobody out. And he’d ground into a double-play, giving the Birds a 3-0 lead.

And while that’s not the most favorable outcome, it’s still a favorable outcome. It gave the O’s a run. Again, the goal with the bases loaded and nobody out should be multiple runs. But you’ll take a run all day long.

Especially given that Pittsburgh mounted a comeback. Bruce Zimmermann would walk in a run in the top of the fifth. He would then balk in a second run, and before you knew it Pittsburgh had tied the game when Suwinsky reached on a fielding error by Gunnar Henderson. This was followed by Lamb’s run-scoring single, giving Pittsburgh a 4-3 lead in the fifth.

But the O’s weren’t about to drop their first night game of 2024. Adley Rutshman promptly tied the game with an RBI-single in the last of the fifth. The Birds would put a couple of runners on on the eighth, and Coby Mayo’s two-RBI double would give the Orioles the lead again for good, and they finished with a 6-4 win.

The O’s will also enjoy their first off day of 2024 tomorrow, with no game on the docket. So a day of rest awaits them.

Baltimore Orioles: Cedric Mullins day-to-day with hamstring discomfort

Baltimore Orioles’ center fielder Cedric Mullins left yesterday’s 7-2 loss to Minnesota in the last of the first inning. He advanced to second base on an Adley Rutschman groundout, gestured towards his right hamstring, and left the game. He was greeted in the dugout by trainers. Manager Brandon Hyde on Mullins:

I don’t think any of us are alarmed by it. I think it’s just one of those day-to-day things right now.

Courtesy of MLB.com

Just for the record, Mullins injured his groin at the end of May against Cleveland last year. He missed about a month’s worth of games, and the Orioles found a way to make due. Point being, if you think this hampers the O’s if Mullins has to miss time in the regular season, keep in mind that they have a next man up mentality.

Baltimore Orioles win in Bradenton, question what to do in the outfield

Grayson Rodriguez got the start for the Baltimore Orioles this afternoon at Lecom Park in Bradenton against Pittsburgh. Yes, those same Pittsburgh Pirates, the Orioles’ closest Graefruit League neighbor. Rodriguez’s line: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 K.

The lone run Rodriguez surrendered came off of Joe’s infield RBI-single in the first inning. The ball deflected off of Jackson Holliday, allowing a run to score. However Pittsburgh would also load the bases later in the inning…

…and Rodriguez pitched out of it. Pitchers will get themselves in trouble in games. It’s the nature of the position. What’s important is how they work out of it. Rodriguez retired the side surrendering just the one run. Which is a good sign.

Colton Cowser continued his hot spring, tying the game with a solo homer in the third. Cowser went 1-for-3 with said home run in the game. He’s played at feverish pace thus far in the early part of spring. This is great for the Orioles, but it begs to question what happens when camp breaks?

The O’s have a logjam in the outfield. It’s a given that the likes of Cedric Mullins, Austin Hays, and Anthony Santander will be on the roster. But there’s also Cowser, Ryan McKenna, and others. The good news is that there’s probably no wrong decision. But obviously they want to make decisions that will impact the big league team the right way in the here and now.

Pittsburgh would get the lead back in the seventh on an RBI-single by Gutierrez. But again, the Birds battled back. Kyle Stowers’ RBI-single in the eighth tied it back up at two. The Orioles would put two runners on in the top of the ninth, bringing TT Bowens to the plate. And Bowens smacked a three-run homer, putting the O’s in the lead for good at 5-2.

We saw a lot of guys contribute today, which is a good thing. These spring games are as much about trying out your entire organization as anything else. It shows that the Oriole organization is deep. But with the top farm system in baseball, we already knew that.

The O’s return home to Sarasota tomorrow to take on Minnesota at Ed Smith Stadium. Dean Kremer gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Minnesota’s Cole Sands. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Kyle Stowers getting hot as Birds defeat New York

For what it’s worth, Cole Irvin pitched three innings today for the Baltimore Orioles. That’s somewhat noteworthy because it’s a starter pitching an extra inning. Meaning they’re starting to get stretched out – ever so slightly. Irvin’s line: 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K.

Oriole bats have been hot thus far this spring, and today was no exception. While it took a few innings for the Orioles to get on the board, when they did it was on. Austin Hays smacked a solo homer in the last of the fifth to get the scoring started. Ryan Mountcastle’s two-RBI double an inning later in the sixth extended the lead to 3-0.

Later in the inning Hays would extend the lead to 5-0 on a two-RBI single. Kyle Stowers also had a good day, adding a two-run homer in the seventh. Manager Brandon Hyde glowed about Stowers and his spring thus far after the game:

That’s impressive. Is that three? Three off lefties? Those balls are no doubters too. Putting really good swings together. Not easy to do when you play the back-half of the game. Sit around for an hour and a half, two hours and all the sudden you jump and get in the game. Happy for him. Last year was a rough year for him. To see the way he’s swinging it right now. Exciting for us.

Quote courtesy of Steve Melewski, MASNsports

Hyde makes a really good point there in that it’s tough to string together good outings in the spring when you aren’t considered a regular. Your day’s starting later than everyone else’s, and you’re doing a lot of nothing early in games. But needless to say, Stowers has looked good thus far in the spring.

New York would put three nominal runs across in the top of the ninth. But the O’s weren’t about to let them leave Ed Smith Stadium with a win. The Orioles cruised to a 7-3 victory this afternoon.

The Birds head to Bradenton tomorrow to take on Pittsburgh at Lecom Park. Grayson Rodriguez gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Pittsburgh’s Martin Perez. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles win on the back of Enrique Bradfield Jr.

Cole Irvin made his first start of the spring for the Baltimore Orioles this afternoon against Pittsburgh at Lecom Park. Irvin was sharp for the short amount of time he was in the game, which suited everyone just fine. Irvin’s line: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K.

You can’t look much better than that over two innings. And as I’ve said before, it’s all about looking “crisp” for veterans. Irvin got his work in today, looked good doing it, and got out. That’s the goal in spring games.

The Orioles played Pittsburgh to an even draw for most of the day. Pittsburgh got a runner to third in the last of the sixth, and appeared poised to take the lead when Brannigan sent a fly ball to left field. However it was run down by Enrique Bradfield, ending the inning and the threat.

Bradfield would come up for the Orioles in the immediate next inning (seventh), which can happen when someone makes an amazing play in the field. However he came up with two on, and his infield RBI-single would give the O’s a 1-0 lead.

Maverick Handley would tack on an insurance run with an RBI-single in the top of the ninth. This sent the O’s home to Sarasota with a 2-0 win. Also with their first road win of 2024’s Florida Grapefruit League.

The O’s will remain in Sarasota tomorrow as Tampa comes in to play them at Ed Smith Stadium. Cade Povich gets the start for the O’s, and Tampa is yet to announce a starter when this is being written. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles win spring opener on Colton Cowser’s walk off homer

Winning and losing didn’t mean anything today for the Baltimore Orioles against the BoSox in spring training. They just wanted to get off to a good start behind newly-acquired ace, Corbin Burnes. And they certainly did that, limited in action as Burnes was – that being one inning. Burnes’ line: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K.

Burnes may have only thrown the first inning, but needless to say he was “crisp.” And I think that’s the goal in spring games when you’re a veteran and starting with a new team. As far as first spring outings that only last one inning go, you’ll take that if you’re the Orioles. All day.

The good news was that Oriole regulars all seemed to show up today. Adley Rutschman smacked a solo homer over the right field wall in the last of the first to give the O’s a 1-0 lead early on. Boston would tie it back up however in the third with a solo homer by Contreras. Later in the inning Dalbec’s RBI-single would give them a 2-1 lead.

But the Orioles came back. Ramon Urias’ sac fly-RBI in the last of the fourth tied the game back up at two. The game became a “bullpen game” after that, with Boston striking back first. Hamilton’s RBI-single in the eighth would put them back on top at 3-2.

But they don’t call it Orioles Magic for nothing. And even in its spring version, it’s pretty exciting. Errol Robinson sent a flare down the left field line which just missed the gloves of Boston fielders, falling fair just inside the line. Robinson would later take second base on a wild pitch, all this with nobody out.

That brought Colton Cowser to the plate. He sent what appeared to be a pop up to left center. However the ball kept going, and motored its way over the wall. That gave the Birds a 4-3 walk off win against Boston in game one of the Florida Grapefruit League.

You can’t go wrong with walkoff victories, even in Spring Training. However for what it’s worth, both Oriole homers today were wind-aided. But that’s true of a lot of home runs in the Florida spring. Overall it was a solid game on both sides of the ball for the Orioles, but also left a lot on which to build. Which is right about where you’d want anyone to be at this point.

Tomorrow the O’s head to Bradenton to take on Pittsburgh at Lecom Park. Cole Irvin makes his spring debut and gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Pittsburgh’s Mitch Keller. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles open the Florida Grapefruit League

You might remember the last time the Baltimore Orioles played – last October in the ALDS in Texas. They were swept, ending their season. It was abrupt and unexpected. But it happened. Today we begin to turn the page.

The Boston Red Sox come to Sarasota to take on the Orioles on “Opening Day” of the Florida Grapefruit League. Make no mistake, not much about anything that happens today will matter. Certainly not the result. But needless to say, the Birds will play ball today. In a ballpark, with people buying tickets, hot dogs and beer being sold, against another team, with umpires.

I suppose the big story as the spring slate of games commences is the Orioles’ injury problems. Gunnar Henderson’s on the shelf, as are John Means and Kyle Bradish. Henderson appears to be closer to getting into a game than Means or Bradish, for what that’s worth. However manager Brandon Hyde expects most of the Oriole regulars to be in the lineup this afternoon against Boston.

What’s always interesting in these games is what the Boston lineup looks like. (Or that of any visiting team – just happens to be the BoSox today.) Teams are supposed to bring a minimum of three “regulars” to all road games, so as to ensure competitiveness. But we all know that EVERY team has inventive ways around this, usually by saying it’s spring training; we don’t know who’s a regular yet.”

So into Sarasota the BoSox come, for today’s exhibition opener at Ed Smith Stadium. Newly acquired Corbin Burnes gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Garrett Whitlock. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Corbin Burnes to start Grapefruit League opener

Baltimore Orioles’ manager Brandon Hyde announced today that Corbin Burnes would get the start against Boston on Saturday afternoon at Ed Smith Stadium. Burnes has started the exhibition opener in the past with Milwaukee, and he’ll get the ball again on Saturday in the Orioles’ Grapefruit League opener. Brandon Hyde was non-comital when asked if this means Burnes starts game one at Camden Yards, but he did so with a wink and a nod.

It’s unclear how long Burnes will pitch. I can’t imagine it would be more than two innings – at the most. But you never know. It’s really about forming a bond with his new teammates, specifically catcher Adley Rutschman – who presumably will be behind home plate on Saturday.

The Orioles will be without Gunnar Henderson at least for the first few Grapefruit League games. Henderson of course strained his oblique working out last month. Better to miss these games than the ones that count.

Just your annual reminder here, folks…these Grapefruit League games are almost scripted. It’s similar to the NFL, where the first 10-12 plays of any game are scripted. They aren’t going to change, regardless of the flow of the game.

By this, I mean that pitchers are given a specific number of innings or pitch count they’re going to throw. And they may well leave the game and finish their work in the ‘pen. So keep that in mind as the game unfolds on Saturday and onward. The results are ill-important. The work is what matters.