At a time when the Orioles are focused on the future, the team provided plenty to dream on tonight. Trevor Rogers continued to deal, Gunnar Henderson shined on both sides of the ball, and Baltimore’s newest players flourished at the dish. The O’s delivered another quality performance against a talented team with a 6-3 victory at Fenway Park.
Rogers continued his inexplicable run in 2025. The lefty blanked Boston over the first six innings before finally surrendering a run in the seventh. Facing adversity
for the first time all night, Rogers struck out Ceddanne Rafaela to squash a potential rally and cap seven strong frames. His final line read 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 7 K.
Rogers pounded the zone with 72 of 98 pitches going for strikes. He consistently got ahead of a powerful Boston offense and held the Sox to only two legitimate scoring opportunities all evening. Roman Anthony advanced to third base after a leadoff single in the fourth, but Rogers retired Trevor Story to post another zero. The starter faced the minimum in the first, third, fifth and sixth innings, and he minimized the damage in the seventh thanks to some solid defense from Colton Cowser.
The Orioles spotted Rogers a lead in the top of the third. Henderson, bothered by a wide slide by Story in the second inning, stepped up to the plate and saw red. The 24-year-old ambushed a first-pitch fastball and sent it 414 feet over the fence in center for a 1-0 advantage.
Rogers, to the surprise of no one, delivered a shutdown inning. Baltimore doubled the lead in the fourth on the back of the baby birds. Samuel Basallo got the party started with a leadoff double high off the green monster. Basallo advanced on a swinging bunt by Jeremiah Jackson, and Dylan Beavers drove the catcher home with a sharp hit to center.
Basallo generated plenty of buzz in his first major league start behind the plate, but Beavers quietly put together an impressive performance at the dish. The rookie recorded a pair of base hits and worked two walks.
The O’s added some insurance in the top of the seventh. Jackson Holliday earned a free pass, and Henderson followed with another hard hit ball. The shortstop smoked a ball down the right field line that bounced around in the corner. Holliday raced all the way home, and Henderson reached third for his fifth triple of the season.
Ryan Mountcastle followed with his third base hit of the day to give the Orioles a four-run lead.
Dietrich Enns posted a zero in the eighth, and the Birds entered the ninth with a three-run advantage. Boston turned to its flamethrower Jordan Hicks, but the Orioles were up to the challenge. Luís Vázquez, playing for an injured Jordan Westburg, started a rally with his first extra-base hit of the season. Henderson reached after getting beaned with a breaking ball, and both runners advanced on a wild pitch.
Mountcastle and Cowser went down swinging before Basallo stepped in to face Hicks. In a 2-2 count, Hicks fired a 98-MPH above the zone. Basallo countered with a quick swing that sent the pitch 108 MPH back the way it came. Two runs scored on Basallo’s second knock of the day, and the O’s led 6-1.
Basallo flew under the radar in his first appearance behind the plate, but he commanded attention when he stood next to it. He launched a missile that hooked just foul early in the contest, and his performance against Hicks showed he’s ready for MLB pitching. Rogers offered significant praise to Basallo for the game he called as well.
Yennier Cano surrendered a walk and a two-run double in the ninth, but the reliever buckled down to secure a 6-3 victory.
Westburg left the game after rounding second base in the first inning. The Orioles used the phrase “right-ankle discomfort” when describing Westburg’s injury. Mansolino said the Orioles would wait to see how Westburg felt in the morning.
The Orioles will go for a mini sweep with Tomoyuki Sugano on the hill tomorrow.