Kyle Bradish limited Tampa to an infield single over six innings, and Gunnar Henderson added a three-run homer to cap a 5-0 victory.
It turns out a little rest can go a long way. The Orioles provided Kyle Bradish a few extra days before today’s outing against the Rays, and the 27-year-old flourished at the Trop. Bradish limited Tampa to one infield single over six innings, and the Orioles added late insurance for a 5-0 victory.
Yandy Díaz tapped a weak dribbler for a leadoff single, and Bradish countered with 18 consecutive outs. Bradish struck out nine batters without issuing a walk. He strung together five straight strikeouts between the fifth and sixth innings and never allowed a ball outside of the infield.
Bradish looked extremely comfortable against the same team that chased him in the third inning last week. He touched 97 MPH on the radar gun and kept Tampa off balance with the slider and his curve. He made a concentrated effort to pound the zone, and the plethora of strikes resulted in early—and often weak—contact in addition to the nine K’s.
Bradish received a platelet-rich plasma injection after suffering a sprain of his ulnar collateral ligament back in January, so the unscheduled rest generated plenty of concern. Bradish provided a strong indication of his condition today, and the Orioles will do whatever they can to keep this version of the righty out there for the duration of the season.
Ryan O’Hearn broke a scoreless tie with a solo homer in the fourth inning.
Danny Coulombe replaced Bradish in a one-run game and picked right up where the starter left off. The lefty recorded six big outs while Yennier Cano and Craig Kimbrel received some rest of their own in the bullpen.
O’Hearn lined a single to right in the eighth inning and managed a surprising steal with two outs. Jordan Westburg laced a ball toward the wall in center field, and a jumping Jose Siri failed to make the catch. O’Hearn scored the second run of the game, and Westburg raced all the way to third for a triple. Colton Cowser flew out to end the inning, but Westburg doubled Baltimore’s lead in the eighth.
Coulombe returned to the mound and delivered a shutdown inning, and the Birds finally put some distance between the teams in the ninth. Birthday boy Connor Norby led off with a single, Cedric Mullins used strong plate discipline to work a walk, and Gunnar Henderson delivered the knockout blow.
Henderson used his quick hands to hook an inside sweeper and send it over the fence for a 5-0 advantage. The long fly marked Baltimore’s 100th home run of the season.
The Orioles nearly recorded 27 consecutive outs, but Díaz ripped a two-out single by Westburg in the ninth inning. The knock marked Tampa Bay’s first hard-hit ball of the day (above 95 MPH), but Cionel Pérez struck out Brandon Lowe to end the game.
Kyle Stowers started the game but exited early with right wrist discomfort. Brandon Hyde said that Stowers tweaked his wrist on a diving play in Toronto, but added that “he will be fine.”
Austin Hays entered as a late-inning defensive replacement and ripped a double in the ninth inning.
Baltimore struggled to catch up to Tampa starter Taj Bradley’s high heat early in the contest. Bradley limited the O’s to three hits, one walk and struck out seven over five innings. Former Orioles Shawn Armstrong and Colin Poche kept the Birds off the board before the late-inning antics.
Baltimore will look to clinch a series victory tomorrow with Grayson Rodriguez facing Zack Littell at 1:40 p.m.