Another day, another debut in Birdland. The Baltimore Orioles selected the contract of their #1 Prospect catcher/1B Samuel Basallo, designating Ryan Noda for assignment. Basallo was the DH for Sunday’s game and batted sixth, going 1 for 4 with 2 RBI and was hit by a pitch on the day.
SAMUEL BASALLO’S FIRST HIT
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) August 17, 2025
Playing in front of his parents and his agent, Basallo had this to say about his debut (via interpreter Brandon Quinones), “Truly, when I went out there, I was just really, really happy to be there, I think. It was an incredibly special feeling. I’m not going to say I wasn’t nervous, but it really just was a special feeling, and when I finally stepped into the batter’s box, I think it all hit me and I felt really happy.”
The exciting weekend in Houston, rookie wise, ended with a 12-0 win over the Houston Astros (69-55).
A yeoman’s effort
Dean Kremer (9-9) made the start and tossed 114 pitches (72 K’s) over 7.0 shutout innings; the 114 pitches were a season high. Kremer limited the Astros lineup to 3 hits, all singles, and 1 walk while striking out 7 and throwing a wild pitch. It was Kremer’s eighth quality start and ninth win in his 24th start of the season.
Grant Wolfram allowed a hit and struck out 3 in the eighth inning and Corbin Martin allowed a pair of hits while striking out 2 in the ninth.
An Earl Weaver special
Jordan Westburg hit a three-run homerun in the four run fifth inning, his 15th of the season, which ties him with Jackson Holliday for the team lead. Westburg singled in runs in both the seventh and eighth innings to finish 4 for 5 with a homerun, 2 runs scored and 5 RBI on the day.
Out Westy
pic.twitter.com/Ehz1VfKUnU
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) August 17, 2025
An effective offense
Joining Westburg in the hit parade was Jeremiah Jackson who went 3 for 5 with 3 runs scored.
The Orioles put an exclamation point on the game in the eighth, scoring five runs. After Westburg knocked in the team’s 8th run, a bases loaded walk by Gunnar Henderson scored Dylan Beavers, Adley Rutschman singled in Holliday with the bases loaded, setting the stage for Basallo’s first hit and RBI.
Overall, the Birds recorded 14 hits in the game with every starter with the exception of Henderson tallying at least one. Holliday took part in the multi-hit party going 2 for 4 with 3 runs scored, 1 RBI and 2 walks. After going 0 for 14 with runners in scoring position on Saturday, the Orioles bounced back to go 7 for 14 in such situations on Sunday.
The game was so one-sided that many of the 36,411 fans in attendance retreated to the exits early. Their only real excitement came in the 8th inning when a fan ran onto the field and actually got as far as the infield.
In the three games against the AL West leading Astros, the Orioles hit .283 (34/120) with 23 runs scored and 5 homeruns.
Giving credit where it is due
Houston right fielder Jesus Sanchez, acquired from the Miami Marlins at the trade deadline, committed a pair of spectacular robberies. He went over the right field wall to deny Henderson a third inning grandslam homerun and did the same to Basallo in the seventh, preventing his first MLB hit from being a two-run homerun.
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 17, 2025
2025 Record: 57-67
Next Game: Mon. 8/18 @ 7:10 pm vs. Red Sox in Boston