Opening Day in Pittsburgh had a little bit of everything for the Baltimore Orioles. The gametime temperature was 40 degrees and cloudy at 4:15pm, there was sunshine during the game as well as rain, sleet and snow. Despite weather better suited for a Ravens-Steelers slobber-knocker, the Orioles persevered and defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 5 to 2.
With a 6-1 record entering the game, the Pirates were one of the hotter teams in MLB. Baltimore starter Grayson Rodriguez (2-0) saw it differently, however. The right-hander allowed 2 runs, both on solo homeruns, and 6 hits while walking 2 and striking out 7 in 6.1 innings of work. Rodriguez threw 97 pitches (64 strikes) to earn his second win of the young season and record his second consecutive quality start..
The Orioles launched three solo homeruns of their own along with a two run seventh inning to put the game in the win column.
Ryan O’Hearn (2 for 4, 3B, HR, R, RBI) homered to centerfield in the second to start the scoring. Gunnar Henderson (2 for 5, HR, 2 R, RBI) led off the third inning with a 407′ homerun to centerfield, his second of the season. Cedric Mullins (1 for 4, HR, R, RBI) completed the homerun triumvirate in the eighth inning with his second of the season as well.
He’s a rocket man
pic.twitter.com/1RFythTfJr
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) April 5, 2024
Baltimore used consecutive singles by Ramon Urias (1 for 4, R), Henderson and Adley Rutschman (2 for 5, RBI) followed by an Anthony Santander (2 for 5, 2B, RBI) double to plate two runs in the seventh.
Danny Coulombe (0.2 IP, K) and Yennier Cano (1.0 IP, 2 K) held the Pirates in check so that Craig Kimbrel would pitch with a save opportunity. The right-handed veteran threw 13 pitches (9 strikes) in the ninth, striking out the first two batters he faced, to record hid first save as an Oriole. Kimbrel has now recorded a save for eight different teams in his 15 year career.
2024 Record: 5-2
Next Game: Sat. 4/6 @ 4:05 pm in Pittsburgh vs. the Pirates