The Baltimore Orioles defeated the Chicago White Sox (18-39) 2-1 on Friday in a game moved up 2 1/2 hours from the original start time due to the threat of inclement weather. Make no mistake about it, the game pitted the team with the 3rd worst record in MLB hosting the team with the second worst record in MLB, so the results should be kept in perspective.
Orioles starter Zach Eflin (4-2) was on cruise control. The 31 year old righty allowed 4 hits, walked 1 and struck out 6 over 7.0 scoreless innings to earn the win. Chicago’s Sean Burke, who came into the game with a man on and no outs in the second inning matched Eflin’s effort, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits with a walk and 6 strikeouts. The difference was the sixth inning when the O’s loaded the bases with no outs on an Adley Rutschman (1 for 4) single, a Gunnar Henderson (2 for 4, 2B, R) double and a Ryan Mountcastle (2 for 3, R, SB) infield single. Ryan O’Hearn (1 for 4, SB) grounded into a forceout at home before Ramon Urias (0 for 2, RBI) plated Henderson with a sac fly. Mountcastle stole home when the White Sox threw through to secon on O’Hearn’s steal of second.
SMALL
BALL
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) May 30, 2025
On a day when Cedric Mullins was placed on the 10 day IL with a hamstring strain, Mountcastle left the game in the eighth inning with right hamstring discomfort.
Whereas the Orioles scored the eventual winning run with head’s up base running in the sixth, bad base running bit the White Sox in the top of the sixth. With runners on first and second with no outs, Chicago’s Edgar Quero was picked off attempting to steal third on a missed bunt attempt.
Bryan Baker (1.0 IP, K) pitched a clean eighth for the Birds and Felix Bautista earned his ninth save despite allowing a run on 2 hits with a walk and 2 strikeouts in the ninth.
Dylan Carlson went 1 for 2 with a walk.
Both clubs continued to struggle with runners in scoring position with Baltimore going 1 for 5 and Chicago going 1 for 7 in those situations.
In the end, I don’t know if tonight’s result says more about the Birds or the Pale Hose.
2025 Record: 20-36
Next Game: Sat. 5/31 @ 4:05 pm vs. White Sox