BOSTON–What happened? Trevor Rogers continued his string of impressive starts, giving up a run on four hits in seven innings as the Orioles beat the Boston Red Sox 6-3, before 36,961 at Fenway Park on Monday night.
Rogers’ first start of the season came at Fenway on May 24th when he gave up just two hits in 6 1/3 scoreless innings. He was used as the 27th man in the second game of a doubleheader that night and returned to Triple-A Norfolk.
Other than a sloppy start on June 18th at Tampa when he lasted just 2 1/3 innings, Rogers has pitched brilliantly, never giving up more than two runs in any of his last 10 starts. It ties an Orioles record set by Milt Pappas in 1964.
“This is as impressive a run as we’ve seen in the big leagues this year by any starting pitcher,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said. “You kind of keep waiting for the other [shoe] to drop … It looks like a very uncomfortable at-bat for the opposing hitters.”
The 27-year-old left-hander allowed three singles in the first four innings, then retired 10 straight until Alex Bregman walked to start the seventh. Trevor Story’s double sent Bregman to third and Story scored on Jarren Duran’s sacrifice fly.
Rogers (6-2), who struck out seven and walked one, lowered his ERA to 1.41. He got enough runs to work with as the Orioles (58-67) won for the fifth time in six games.
“I’m going to say this as humbly as I can. I have the confidence to go out there and know what I’m going to do, and just execute my game plan and leave the results out of it,” Rogers said.
“Just execute how I know I can. Couple months ago when I came here, I was like, ‘Oh, man, let’s see how this goes.’ I ended up, like I said before, a lot of unanswered questions were answered. I just continued that stretch and stayed within my process and executed pitches. I finally feel confident and know what I can do every five, six days.”
Shortstop Gunnar Henderson, who didn’t like Trevor Story’s hard slide into second on a forceout in the bottom of the second, hit his 15th home run with two outs in the third inning against Dustin May (7-9). He said the slide got him “locked in,” and he later belted an RBI triple in addition to making a couple of outstanding plays.
Samuel Basallo’s first extra-base hit, a double hight off the Green Monster, started the fourth. After Jeremiah Jackson singled, Dylan Beavers lined a 3-0 pitch into center field for his first RBI, scoring Basallo.
Henderson’s triple down the right-field line scored Jackson Holliday in the seventh to put the Orioles ahead, 3-0. Ryan Mountcastle’s third single of the game scored Henderson for a 4-0 lead.
Basallo’s two-run single in the ninth made it 6-0. Basallo had two RBIs on Sunday, and he’s the first player in Orioles history to have two RBIs in each of his first two games.
Dietrich Enns pitched a spotless eighth and after Roman Anthony singled to start the ninth, Yennier Cano allowed a two-run double to Duran
In his third major league game, Beavers reached base four times on two singles and two walks.
Third baseman Jordan Westburg left the game in the first inning with right ankle discomfort after he stumbled while trying to make the turn at second base. He was replaced by Luis Vázquez.
“We’ll know more tomorrow. We think it’s probably mild, but we think we’ll probably wait to see how he wakes up in the morning, and we’ll probably have a better idea what it’s going to look like,” Mansolino said.
How did Basallo do behind the plate? Rogers was impressed by Basallo’s work behind the plate.
“He’s been up here for two days but the moment hasn’t sped up on him,” Rogers said. “I think that’s really impressive. He’s 21 years old and he’s doing this. You know, it’s still early, but he’s doing this as a 21-year-old.
“I’m really glad that he’s up here and he’s really going to help us this last month and a half and going into next year. So, tip my cap to that guy. He’s going to be good for a long time.”
Mansolino was also impressed.
“I’ll give him a lot of credit,” he said. “He called a good game. Just seeing Trev in there. He gave him props for the game that he called and the game that he caught. For an established pitcher in the big leagues, who has a [1.41 ERA] in front of the team, call out and recognize a rookie catcher for the game that he just called and caught kind of says what he did tonight.”
What did Basallo think of catching Rogers? He appreciated that Rogers complimented him.
“I’m not yet sure what he said about me, but knowing that he said something nice definitely means a lot to me,” Basallo said through a team translator. “Obviously, my first game catching, and with all the good work he’s been doing the last couple months, it feels really nice to hear that.”
In his first game at Houston on Sunday, Basallo was the designated hitter. But he said he wasn’t nervous about catching his first major league game at Fenway Park.
“No, not at all today,” Basallo said. “I think yesterday felt a lot more stressful. Even with all the excitement and everything going on, I think I felt a lot more comfortable today. Trevor and I had worked together previously, as well, and I think that helped.”
What does it mean? Hopefully, Westburg’s ankle injury will be mild because the club is clicking, and his absence would leave it without an established major league third baseman.
What’s the stat of the day? Henderson is tied for the club lead (15) in home runs with two players no longer with the Orioles, Ramón Laureano and Cedric Mullins, two players who are, Westburg and Holliday.
What’s the word? “They’re really hungry to be up here and just have success. The amount of success they’re having in just a couple days up here, and helping us win, and continue the stretch that we’re on, I’m very happy for both of them. And they’re just going to continue to help us, and I’m very excited about that.”-Rogers on Basallo and Beavers
What’s next? Tomoyuki Sugano (10-5, 4.13) will face Walker Buehler (7-7, 5.43) on Tuesday night at 7:10.
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