Of the twenty-four pitches Bryan Baker (3-3) threw on Monday night, there was one he certainly would like a mulligan for. Pitch number nineteen, a 97.7 mph 4-seam fastball, thrown to the Dodgers Chris Taylor with an 0-2 count and 2 outs in the sixth inning, would be that one. Taylor hit that pitch 416 ft. to center field for a grand slam homerun, propelling Los Angeles to a 6-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles. That one pitch hung the loss on Baker (1.0 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 1 BB).

Grayson Rodriguez returned to Baltimore’s 26-man roster and pitched into the sixth inning. Rodriguez, who hit 100+ mph with six pitches in the first inning, finished his start with 4 runs allowed on 7 hits with 2 walks, 4 strikeouts and a wild pitch over 5.0 innings.

Nick Vespi gave the team another solid effort out of the bullpen, giving up 2 hits and striking out 1 over 2.1 innings.

Offensively, Adley Rutschman (1 for 3, 1 R, ! RBI, 1 BB) led the way with a fifth inning homerun, his 13th of the year.

Ryan Mountcastle (2 for 4, 1 RBI) and Ramon Urias (1 for 4, 1 R) each hit doubles while Gunnar Henderson (1 for 4, 1 RBI) hit a triple, insuring proper hydration for the splash zone.

Colton Cowser (0 for 2, 1 R, 2 BB) introduced a new handshake to the dugout after Rutschman’s homerun.

BOX SCORE

2023 Record: 57-36

Next Game: Tues. 7/18 @ 7:05 pm vs. LA Dodgers @ OPACY

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