In video games like these, youth and inexperience are sometimes referenced as negatives. Grayson Rodriguez and Gunnar Henderson flipped that narrative Saturday night time.
The Orioles’ two youngest gamers entered the season among the many sport’s finest prospects. In the largest recreation of their careers, the pair proved that their immense expertise issues way over their lack of expertise.
Rodriguez masterfully twirled eight scoreless innings, whereas Henderson hit an early dwelling run to interrupt the offense out of its droop to hold the Orioles to an important 8-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.
The win ended Baltimore’s four-game shedding streak and put the membership again in sole possession of first place atop the American League East. With its win and the Texas Rangers’ loss, the Orioles’ magic quantity to make the playoffs fell to 1.
If the Orioles (92-56) win Sunday, they are going to clinch their first playoff berth since 2016.
Rodriguez, 23, delivered the perfect begin of his profession, scattering simply 5 hits and no walks whereas hanging out seven. Entering the season, the right-hander was the game’s second-best pitching prospect, in keeping with Baseball America, however he struggled in his first stint within the majors and was demoted to Triple-A. He returned in July and has since cemented himself as not simply one of many Orioles’ most dependable starters, however the most effective pitchers within the AL.
Henderson, 22, clobbered a 428-foot dwelling run off Rays starter Tyler Glasnow within the second inning to provide the Orioles an early 4-0 lead. The shortstop was the consensus No. 1 prospect in baseball earlier than the season and is the front-runner to win the American League Rookie of the Year Award.
The Orioles entered Saturday reeling, they usually wanted a strategy to flip round their shedding methods. There Rodriguez and Henderson had been to breathe life into the struggling membership and ship it a significant triumph. After it, the 2 children did the postgame interview on the sector collectively.
Each recreation this sequence has been extra vital than the previous one, with the AL’s two finest groups coming into the four-game set at Camden Yards with the highest spot within the AL East within the stability. After shedding the primary two video games of the sequence, the Orioles dropped right into a tie with the Rays — the primary time Baltimore hadn’t been in sole possession of first place since claiming it in Tampa Bay in July.
Each recreation this sequence is twice as significant as a standard recreation given the stakes for the division. But the Orioles successful only one recreation this weekend was much more essential, as it could give the membership the season sequence over the Rays for the primary time since 2016. That head-to-head file is used because the tiebreaker, so Baltimore’s one-game lead over Tampa Bay (92-58) is successfully two. Given that, the Orioles’ magic quantity to win the division fell from 15 to 12.
The win offers the Orioles 40 extra wins this yr than that they had in 2021 once they received simply 52 video games, making them simply the fifth group in MLB historical past — and the primary since 1963 — to realize the feat in a two-year span.
Around the horn
- Before the sport, the Orioles recalled right-handed reliever Mike Baumann and optioned Bryan Baker to Triple-A. Baumann was one of many membership’s most dependable relievers by way of the season’s first 4 months earlier than struggling in August.
- Manager Brandon Hyde mentioned first baseman Ryan Mountcastle, who hasn’t performed since Wednesday with left shoulder discomfort, felt “just OK” after taking swings Friday. Hyde hoped Mountcastle can be accessible off the bench Saturday, however he wasn’t wanted within the blowout victory.
This story can be up to date.
Rays at Orioles
Sunday, 1:35 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
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Source: www.bostonherald.com
