What happened? Tomoyuki Sugano recorded his first major league win, pitching into the sixth inning as the Orioles beat the Kansas City Royals, 8-1, at Kauffman Stadium.
The 35-year-old Sugano (1-1), who left his first major league start last Sunday before the fifth inning with hand cramps, threw 89 pitches, and gave up a run on five hits, walking one and striking out five.
“I thought about being ahead in the count with each hitter,” Sugano said through his translator to reporters in Kansas City. “Last time, it was my first outing in the major leagues. This time I was a little more patient, comfortable.”
The former Japanese standout right-hander took a 6-0 lead into the sixth before Bobby Witt Jr. hit his first home run of the season.
The Orioles (4-5), who ended a three-game losing streak, had 12 hits. After playing a sloppy game in their 8-2 loss on Friday night, the Orioles played a solid all-around game and capitalized on their opportunities.
Backup catcher Gary Sánchez’s first hit with the Orioles, a two-run single in the second inning against Michael Wacha (0-2), gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead.
The Orioles scored four more in the sixth on RBI singles by Heston Kjerstad and Ramón Urías and a two-run single by Jackson Holliday. A two-run triple by Tyler O’Neill in the seventh made it 8-1.
Holliday had his first three-hit game, two singles and a triple. The triples by Holliday ad O’Neill were the Orioles’ first of the season, and centerfielder Cedric Mullins started the four-run sixth with a bunt hit.
“I think we’re dangerous up and down the order,” manager Brandon Hyde said to reporters in Kansas City. “We’re dangerous off the bench. We have the ability to put a lot of runs on the board.”
Gunnar Henderson was hitless in five at-bats with four strikeouts in his second game of the season after missing the Orioles’ first seven games because of a strained right intercostal muscle.
Oriole relievers Bryan Baker, Keegan Akin and Matt Bowman combined for 3 2/3 hitless innings.
The Orioles traded infielder/outfielder Nick Gordon to the Royals for cash considerations. Gordon was signed to a minor league contract by the Orioles last December 31st, hit only .107 in spring training and was 4-for-13 (.308) in four games for Triple-A Norfolk.
What was working for Sugano? Hyde was impressed by Sugano’s outing.
“I thought he looked way more comfortable today,” he said. “Probably a little nervous that first start in Toronto. Really good command like he had in spring training of all of his pitches. Really good split. Fastball command was there. All pitches. He was able to throw anything in any count and kept guys off balance. I thought he was absolutely outstanding today.”
After the win, the Orioles doused Sugano with beer to celebrate.
“Typically in Japan, the beer shower happens only when you win the championship,” he said. “I was really happy to get that treatment.”
Hyde is looking forward to similar starts from Sugano.
“He looked really comfortable today,” Hyde said. “He looked relaxed. I thought he competed extremely well. Get that first start out of the way. Today, I thought he was more like himself.”
Sugano was dehydrated pitching in Toronto, but that was hardly the case in Kansas City with game-time temperature a brisk 47 degrees with high winds making it feel much cooler.
“It was too cool. I didn’t sweat at all. Everything went well,” Sugano said.
The fifth inning was a long time for Sugano to sit, and he learned a lesson when he couldn’t finish the sixth.
“Before I went out, it was obviously cold,” he said. “I moved around to keep myself warm. I gave up the home to Witt. I’ll try to be careful next time, making sure to keep myself warm. Ideally, I don’t want to pitch in cold weather like this.”
His first win was important, and Sugano knows that after just two starts, he’ll face many more challenges. ‘
“Obviously, I’m not here to win one game in the major leagues,” Sugano said. “I’m here to win day-to-day and ultimately get the championship. After all that I was still happy.”
Sugano was easy to play behind.
“He just does a really good job of getting ahead,” Holliday said on the MASN postgame show. “He kind of tempts hitters. There were a lot of strikes. I noticed in spring training — he gets ahead early, finds ways to get guys out. It’s really fun to be a defender.”
What was working for the offense? The Orioles had 12 hits, but no home runs. They have just one home run in their last six games.
“We swung the bat well all game long,” Hyde said. “We drove so many baseballs that the wind was blowing straight in.”
Henderson was the only Orioles starter without a hit.
“We’re just taking great at-bats. One at-bat after another leads to good things,” Holliday said. “I’m just trying to keep it simple. I feel like my process has been pretty good lately. I’m hitting the ball hard, and I just found holes today. Happy with that. Just trying to use the big part of the field. Good things happen when I try to do that.”
What does it mean? The Orioles played a much cleaner game, had timely hitting and a fine start from Sugano. That’s what they’ll need to do more often.
What’s the word? “We would have had a few more homers if the weather wasn’t so brutal.”-Holliday on the Orioles playing their second straight game in cold conditions.
What’s the stat of the day? 37. The Orioles have scored 37 runs in their four wins: They’ve scored 12, 9 and 8 runs twice.
“We’ve got to be a little more consistent,” Hyde said.
What’s going on in the minor leagues? Zach Fruit, Peter Van Loon and Dylan Heid combined on a three-hit shutout as Double-A Chesapeake beat Altoona, 2-0.
Fruit allowed three hits in 4 2/3 innings while Van Loon and Heid held the Curve hitless in the final 4 1/3.
Shortstop Carter Young and third baseman Anthony Servideo drove in runs.
Outfielder Reed Trimble was placed on the injured list. Hudson Haskin was sent to the Baysox from Triple-A Norfolk.
What’s next? Cade Povich (0-0, 6.23) will face Kris Bubic (1-0, 0.00) on Sunday at 2:10 p.m.
Call for questions: Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com