Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash stood outside the visiting clubhouse at Camden Yards and could only shrug his shoulders at the masterclass from Orioles starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez. Right fielder Josh Lowe shook his head at a similar line of questioning. And when Rays starter Tyler Glasnow reflected on his evening, it was Gunnar Henderson who invoked the most frustration.
Within the Orioles clubhouse, the impressive performances from a rookie pitcher and rookie shortstop driving was just another night. To the Orioles’ American League East rivals, who trail by one game in the race for the division title, it was remarkable.
Rodriguez took the mound for his third outing against the Rays this season. In each of his first two — both Orioles wins May 9 and July 22 — he allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings while recording a combined 10 strikeouts. On Saturday night, the 23-year-old right-hander pitched a career-high eight innings, striking out seven and walking none while allowing just five hits.
“I feel like we’ve seen him every time, and he’s pitched really well against us,” Cash said. “Today was obviously probably the best, most powerful. He’s obviously a very talented pitcher, and he kind of fed off that energy in the crowd today and was able to harness pitches in the zone.
“Sometimes, young pitchers get a little amped up, and they start spraying balls all over. He did not do that. He was really tough against us. … He hit the occasional offspeed [pitch]. But he just powered through with his fastball. It was an impressive start for him.”
Rodriguez struck out two in the first inning and walked with a quiet confidence toward the dugout. He showed a bit more emotion as the night progressed, including a tip of the cap to Austin Hays after a highlight-reel catch in left field and a medley of fist pumps after inning-ending double plays. When he ended the eighth inning with a strikeout of second baseman Brandon Lowe, he screamed into his mitt.
“He had his A-game tonight,” said Josh Lowe, who went 1-for-4 with a strikeout. “I know he’s been one of their big prospects for a time. Now he’s starting to make a name for himself in the big leagues. He had it all working right and made some good pitches.
“We’ve seen him a bunch of times, I think he just executed his pitches a little better [tonight]. He had some conviction behind his fastball and was just throwing it by guys. 100 miles an hour is a 100 mile-an-hour pitch. It’s hard to hit. But when you put it where you want it makes it even harder to hit. Credit to him for doing a good job.”
Henderson offered similar gusto at the plate. He kick-started what has been a slumping offense, turning on a 92 mph slider from Glasnow and sending it over the right-center field wall for a two-run homer to give the Orioles a 4-0 lead in the second inning. As he crossed home plate, the shortstop leaped toward Adam Frazier, who scored, and Adley Rustchman, who was waiting in the on-deck circle.
Henderson finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs, adding a run-scoring single in the fourth. His two runs gave him 91 on the year, breaking Cal Ripken Jr.’s Orioles rookie record.
The 22-year-old Henderson’s youthful energy complemented a mature performance in the win that dropped the Orioles’ playoff magic number to one. On Sunday, they can clinch their first postseason berth since 2016.
“He’s a great hitter,” Glasnow said. “I wish I would’ve executed a bit more. I think just leaving some stuff there for him is never ideal. And I think a hitter like that who’s talented is going to take advantage of it.”
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