Orioles lose to Rays, 6-3; Morton’s dominant spring; Honeycutt’s Grapefruit League debut

SARASOTA–What’s happening? Tomoyuki Sugano will make his third start of the spring when the Orioles face the Minnesota Twins on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. at Ed Smith Stadium.

Sugano has allowed four hits in four scoreless innings, walking two and striking out two. He’ll be opposed by Simeon Woods Richardson.

Geoff Arnold and Ben Wagner will be on the call for WBAL/98 Rock.

Thaddeus Ward will start for the Orioles’ split-squad against the Philadelphia Phillies at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater at 1:05 p.m. Ranger Suárez will pitch for the Phillies.

Reliever Andrew Kittredge had left knee surgery on Friday in Baltimore. He’ll be out for a few months, manager Brandon Hyde said.

Outfielder Tyler O’Neill expects to be in the lineup on Sunday after missing a few days with right rib-cage soreness.

What’s happened? Charlie Morton threw three scoreless innings, allowing one hit, striking out four and walking one as the Orioles lost to the Tampa Bay Rays, 6-3, before 7,641 at Ed Smith Stadium on Saturday.

Morton, who threw 46 pitches, hasn’t allowed a run in six innings in three starts, giving up four hits, striking out five with one walk.

“All in all, I feel pretty good,” Morton said. “I think probably another few weeks, until I’m actually … into the regular season until I’m really truly and honestly aware of where I’m at. I’m still getting in shape, quite frankly, my arm and my body, into pitching shape. I feel good. I think I’m getting some good feedback. I’m getting to work with [Adley Rutschman] again. I think he understands where I’m at. He gets my tools.”

Hyde is impressed with the 41-year-old right-hander’s spring.

“He doesn’t look 41,” Hyde said. “The command and the stuff. You see a lot of 94s and 95s up on the board with a really good curveball. Command is the big thing. Command with two really good pitches and multiple weapons to get guys out.”

Rutschman drove in the first Orioles run with a third-inning single. Minor league infielder Jeremiah Jackson hit a two-run home run in the ninth. Coby Mayo had a broken-bat single in the eighth, and is 2-for-24 (.083).

Cionel Pérez, Yennier Cano and Gregory Soto pitched scoreless innings. Seranthony Domínguez gave up five runs in the seventh. Tre’ Morgan hit a two-run home run.

“He got balls elevated. I thought they ambushed him early in the count,” Hyde said. “Some of the damage was on fastballs elevated and a curveball elevated. He hasn’t had many appearances. It is spring training, and he’s got a lot more appearances left.”

Kameron Misner homered against Roansy Contreras in the ninth.

The Orioles optioned 26-year-old right-hander Brandon Young to minor league camp. There are 57 players left in camp. Young allowed four runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings.

“He’s a starter that has command,” Hyde said. “The amount of starters we used last year, we’re going to need him at Triple-A. He understood that. We want to get him stretched out so he’s ready for the minor league season and also be an option. We’re going to need starters.”

What’s up with? Vance Honeycutt, the Orioles’ first-round draft pick in 2024, played in his first Grapefruit League game and struck out in the eighth inning in his only at-bat. He played three innings in center field.

“Definitely cool, it was my first one obviously to kind of soak it in, learn from the coaches, players,” Honeycutt said.

Honeycutt was 9-for-51 (.177) with five RBIs and 24 strikeouts in 13 games for Single-A Delmarva and High-A Aberdeen last season.

“Biggest aim is to just try to stay really focused in the game, and I’m just trying to be selective and just have fun, work hard and get better.”

What’s what? The Orioles have played seven games involving the automated ball-strike system. On Friday night in Lakeland, home plate umpire Jen Pawol had an especially busy night dealing with challenges. Only a pitcher, batter or catcher can ask for a challenge, and it must be done immediately.

“I think it’s really interesting, and I think it’s going to be strategic,” Hyde said. “We kind of wasted one or two early yesterday that could come back to hurt you. You need to know the system, and I’m glad we’re practicing it now in case it does happen next year …I t’s a pretty cool fan experience.”

What’s the word?  “I’m holding my breath now. I want to bubble wrap everybody.”-Hyde on the Orioles’ spring training injuries.

What’s the number? 15. The Orioles farm system fell to 15^th place in the latest MLB.com rankings. They ranked third in the midseason rankings after three years as the top-ranked system.

Detroit, Tampa Bay and Houston are the top three farm systems.

What’s the record? 5-7-1. The Orioles will play the Minnesota Twins on Sunday at Ed Smith Stadium at 1:05 p.m. while a split-squad will play the Philadelphia Phillies at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater at 1:05 p.m.