The Baltimore Orioles defeated the Seattle Mariners 2-0 on Tuesday night thanks to a scoreless six and a half innings pitched by Grayson Rodriguez, who gave up only two hits. Anthony Santander also knocked home the game-winning run with an RBI single in the fourth inning.
Despite Seattle’s faltering offense, Rodriguez (10-3) was outstanding, retiring the first eight batters and giving up only one hit in five innings. After losing five straight games, the Orioles have won five of their previous six encounters.
The Mariners put up two hits, but Rodriguez got out of both jams by striking out Cal Raleigh in the sixth and Jorge Polanco’s inning-ending double play in the fourth.
“I thought his ball throwing was excellent,” manager Brandon Hyde remarked. Excellent switch up tonight. Although his debut in Houston wasn’t the best, he has since had four or five excellent ones. This was also right there. Excellent work adjusting the pace.”
Josh Rojas scored two singles to lead Seattle in hits.
In the fourth inning, Santander singled to right field with one out after Gunnar Henderson had led off with a single against Mariners starter George Kirby. This gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead.
Santander remarked, “Their pitching staff is pretty good.” “We don’t always win games with home runs. We must endeavor as hitters to limit our output, particularly when there are runners in scoring position.”
It was the Orioles’ first victory without a long ball since they defeated Tampa Bay on May 31. The Orioles lead MLB with 139 home runs.
After 6 1/3 innings, Kirby’s day was over as Cedric Mullins’ RBI single in the seventh inning made it a 2-0 contest. Kirby (7-6) gave up one walk, five strikeouts, and two earned runs on seven hits.
Along with going 6 1/3 innings, Rodriguez also gave up four walks, eight strikeouts, and 19 hits, including nine off his changeup, from the Seattle offense.
“That’s kind of the foundation of how I pitch is off that changeup,” Rodriguez stated. “If I can get that working, I’m pretty confident I can do anything I want with it.”
After two flawless innings of relief from Yennier Cano and Cionel Pérez, Craig Kimbrel closed out the ninth inning to get his 20th save.
With one on that appeared to tie the game in the ninth, Raleigh gave the Baltimore dugout a fright with a thunderous homer, but the ball curled foul.
Seattle’s losing run now stands at three games following the defeat.
“We are aware that Baltimore has a strong team,” Mariners manager Scott Servais stated. “There will be close games ahead. It’s been difficult for us lately, but we need to figure out how to deliver the big hit late.”
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