BALTIMORE-What happened? The Orioles had a big first inning, and that was enough for starter Tomoyuki Sugano.
Adley Rutschman and Ryan Mountcastle hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning to send the Orioles on their way to a 3-2 win over the Athletics before 20,796 at Camden Yards on Friday night.
Rutschman’s home run, his first since June 16th, scored Gunnar Henderson, who had walked, and Mountcastle, in his first at-bat since straining his right hamstring, followed with his third home run, his first since April 30th.
While playing nine rehab games at Triple-A Norfolk, Mountcastle hit three home runs and made some adjustment to his swing.
“Nothing too crazy, I just did whatever felt comfortable,” Mountcastle said. “I felt good down there. I felt like I was seeing the ball well brought it in today.”
Mountcastle is eager to regain his home run stroke.
“The one today was nice to see that get out and hopefully keep it going,” he said.
Before the game, interim manager Tony Mansolino said he expected Coby Mayo to play more often than Mountcastle at first for the remainder of the season. Mountcastle is likely to be the designated hitter most often.
Mayo made an excellent catch against the foul ball netting beyond first base on Shane Langeliers in the sixth.
“I mean he’s not super new to the position, but you know still learning so whatever they want me to do, I’m willing to do,” Mountcastle said. “Just get him some more reps over there I think it’ll be good for him.”
Rutschman had been out with a strained left oblique muscle from June 20th until July 28th. Mountcastle hadn’t played since sustaining the hamstring injury stealing home on May 30th.
Those three runs were all the Orioles scored, and they had only one more hit against J.T. Ginn (2-4), an infield single by Henderson in the third.
Sugano (9-5) completed seven innings for the first time since June 3rd and allowed one run on five hits. He walked two and struck out four.
The Athletics scored a run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Luis Urías. In the eighth, Tyler Soderstrom’s single drove in Nick Kurtz against Yennier Cano.
Keegan Akin retired the side in the ninth for his second save.
The Orioles (53-63) have won consecutive games for the first time since the July 31st trade deadline. They lost two of three to the Athletics (51-67) from June 6th-8th in Sacramento.
How did Sugano pitch? It was one of Sugano’s better games of the season, and he’s relieved that Rutschman has returned. It’s his second straight start with Rutschman catching
“I think the biggest thing is Adley coming back,” Sugano said through his translator. “He’s been calling the game really well. So, I think that’s probably the biggest point.”
“The split was hard and sharp. A lot of confidence out there right now,” Mansolino said. “This is kind of what he looked like early in the year when he came in there. He just had probably four or five bad starts. Probably adjusting to the schedule, the workload of pitching in the USA and in this league. He’s been pretty good here for a while. The split was hard; it was sharp. The fastball had some life to it. That’s a pretty good lineup right there that he rolled through.
“The stuff is better. I’ve said it here a few times, there was an adjustment made with the mechanics. He’s throwing harder. Pitching in his league at 89-to-91 is very different than pitching in this league at 92-to-94, and Trevor Rogers is kind of the same scenario.
“There’s more life to the ball, so when there’s more life to the ball, it’s harder to hit, you get away with mistakes. When you make a mistake throwing 90, it gets waffled. When you make a mistake throwing 94, you’ve got a chance to get away with it. And pitchers make mistakes every night.”
Who’s the closer? The Orioles have had two save situations since the trade deadline, and with no obvious choice, the chances have fallen on Akin.
He’s recorded saves in both his chances, though he did give up a two-run home run to Justin Turner in a 3-3 tie at Wrigley Field last Sunday.
Mansolino said it’s not Akin’s job, and that he won’t hesitate to use Cano against a right-handed lineup to close in the ninth.
“We do not have a closer,” Mansolino said. “We won’t have a closer.”
How many new players do the Orioles have? On Friday afternoon, the Orioles signed outfielder Greg Allen to a contract. He started in center field and was hitless in three at-bats in his first major league game since August 20th, 2023.
Mansolino had Rico Garcia, who pitched six games for the Orioles in 2022, warming up in the eighth and ninth. Garcia was claimed off waivers from the New York Mets on Tuesday.
Allen is the 58th player used by the Orioles in 2025, four away from the club record of 62 set in 2021.
What does it mean? Though Mansolino insists the Orioles don’t have a closer, it appears that Akin is comfortable in that role. He recorded his first career save at home.
What’s the stat of the day? The Orioles have had three hits or fewer in a game eight times, and this was the first time they won this season.
What’s the word? “It feels like we stole one.”-Mansolino on winning with just three hits.
What’s going on in the minor leagues? Kyle Bradish allowed three runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings in his fourth rehab start as Norfolk lost to Rochester, 8-4. Bradish walked two and struck out four and threw 69 pitches.
Nestor German allowed three runs on five hits in five innings as Double-A Chesapeake lost to Akron, 4-3.
Evan Yates threw four scoreless innings in relief as High-A Aberdeen beat Wilmington, 2-1.
Rightfielder Nate George had three hits in Single-A Delmarva’s 10-4 loss to Fayetteville.
What’s next? Brandon Young (0-5, 5.88) will face Jack Perkins (0-2, 3.97) at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday. The Orioles’ Hall of Fame ceremony, with the inductions of Adam Jones, Joe Orsulak and broadcaster Tom Davis, will precede the game.
Call for questions: Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com