Two offensive juggernauts were clashing in one of the top early series of the season.
The New York Yankees were visiting Camden Yards with first place on the line and as one of the hottest offenses in baseball. The Orioles, who were averaging over five runs a game, were ready to show the Yanks that there was a new beast in the East.
With strong starting pitching and timely bullpen showings, the Birds used their hot offense to win the first two games and the series finale.
Playing the Yankees into a 1-for-18 showing with runners in scoring position, the Orioles dominated defensively and pitching-wise. They took advantage of situations to claim a three to one series victory and the soul possession of first place.
Let’s see how the series unfolded.
Game 1: O’s 2, NYY 0
Grayson Rodriguez is becoming the pitcher everyone expected when he joined the rotation last season.
From going head-to-head with the opposing team’s top starter to coming up big in big games, this time against the Yankees, Rodriguez pitched one of his finest outings to date.
Coming in, the Yankees were one of the hottest offenses in baseball, and that meant absolutely nothing to Rodriguez (W, 4-1), who pitched 5.2 innings of five-hit shutout ball. Though he walked three, he struck out three and stymied the Yankees’ vaunted lineup.
What showed the most was Rodriguez’s frustration by not completing six innings of work. That’s passion.
Offensively, it was superstar Gunnar Henderson who put the Birds’ lone RBI on the board with a leadoff home run. Henderson became the youngest player to hit 10 home runs in the month of April.
Cionel Pérez (H, 1), Yennier Canó (H, 7) and Danny Coulombe (S, 1) would close the door on the Orioles’ third shutout (all in the last week) of the season.
The offense scored two runs on four hits in the 2-0 victory.
*Notes: Grayson Rodriguez went on the 15-day IL with shoulder inflammation, and John Means was activated on Wednesday.
Game 2: O’s 4, NYY 2
If Grayson Rodriguez is becoming the ace of the rotation, Dean Kremer is proving he is the anchor of the staff. Struggling to start the year, Kremer showed why he is a key part of the Orioles’ staff with his best outing of the season.
The bullpen needing all the rest it could get was given much of the day off, as Kremer would pitch seven stellar innings, keeping the Bronx Bombers’ lineup off balance all night.
Kremer (2-2) allowed two runs on four hits as he walked four and struck out four. Aided by three double plays, Kremer, once again, stepped up in a big game.
The offense was led by Adley Rutschman’s two hits (11-game hitting streak), as every starter but one had a hit. Rutschman, Henderson and James McCann contributed RBIs as the offense collected nine hits.
Keegan Akin (H, 4) and Jacob Webb (S, 1) finished off the victory that gave the Orioles soul possession of first place and five straight victories over AL East opponents.
*Notes: It was the first time since April of 2017 that the Orioles have ended April in first place in the AL East.
Game 3: O’s 0, NYY 2
Corbin Burnes was entering the AL East rivalry for the first time and did not disappoint in his first go around.
Burnes (L, 3-1) would go six innings, allowing four hits, including Oswaldo Cabrera’s two-run homer, while striking out six and walking just one.
The offense, unfortunately, was stymied, as Ryan O’Hearn, Jordan Westburg and Heston Kjerstad were the only players with a hit. The team struck out 10 times and scored no runs for the day.
Mike Baumann and Yohan Ramírez would finish out the game without allowing a base runner, but the Birds would take the loss and move into a virtual tie in the AL East, their first loss to an AL East opponent this year.
Game 4: O’s 7, NYY 2
The Orioles activated last year’s ace, Kyle Bradish, to finish out the series and make his season debut.
Returning from a sprained UCL, Bradish would pick up right where he left off last season. Bradish would complete 4.2 innings, allowing a run on four hits while walking two and striking out five.
Though he didn’t factor in the decision, Bradish showed why he is an integral part of the Orioles’ rotation and will make the pitching staff that much stronger.
Offensively, Ryan Mountcastle and Jordan Westburg led the way with two hits apiece. Mountcastle, Westburg and Jorge Mateo added two RBIs each, with Ryan McKenna providing one.
Of the Orioles’ eight hits, five went for extra bases. Mountcastle (6), Mateo (1) and McKenna (1) each had solo home runs, while Rutschman had a double, and Westburg had a triple in the game.
Keegan Akin (W, 1-0) pitched 1.1 innings, allowing one run in picking up the victory. Coulombe, Webb and Pérez would close out the 7-2 game and series victory.
*Notes: Yohan Ramírez was DFA’d for Kyle Bradish to be activated from the injured list.
BATTERY ❌-FACTOR
With the Yankees visiting Camden Yards and the teams fighting for first place, it was O’s manager Brandon Hyde who was pegged as the BATTERY ❌-FACTOR.
His decisions when it came to lineups, pitching rollouts and when to pinch hit or relieve would be key in how the series would play out.
Even in the loss, Hyde still managed in a way that kept the Orioles within a chance to come from behind. It was the way Hyde made his decisions that contributed to the Orioles series victory and taking over soul possession of the AL East.
Specifically, Hyde’s bullpen management this series was spectacular. He also did not use Craig Kimbrel in any game, which will help in his recovery process. He made the right decision seemingly every time.
The Orioles are now 12-0-4 in their last 16 series against the AL East (the longest such stretch in team history) and have won or tied four straight series against the Yankees for the first time since September 2015 to June 2016.
The Orioles will head to Cincinnati to take on the upstart Reds for a three-game weekend series. John Means is slated to return Saturday, as the Orioles’ pitching staff is starting to round into the form that was expected from the beginning of the year.
Will the Birds be able to nest in Great America Ball Park, or will the Reds prove to be a pesky opponent again? It all starts Friday.
What are your thoughts on this series victory? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter (X) and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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