ST. PETERSBURG, Florida—Seven days ago, Kyle Bradish had his worst start of the season, allowing five runs on seven hits in 2 2/3 innings to the Tampa Bay Rays.
A week later, Bradish turned in a masterful six innings, when he allowed a leadoff single and then retired 18 straight batters in the Orioles’ 5-0 win over Tampa Bay before 20,485 at Tropicana Field on Saturday.
Two starts ago, Bradish threw seven hitless innings against the Chicago White Sox, but he walked four batters.
This game was much, much cleaner. Yandy Diaz tapped a ball to the left of the mound for a base hit in the top of the first. Then Bradish (2-0) didn’t allow a single baserunner, striking out nine and not a single ball left the infield. He struck out six of his last nine batters.
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Danny Coulombe, who allowed a home run to his first batter, Chicago’s Denny Mendick, on May 26th in the Orioles’ no-hit bid, retired the six batters he faced. Tampa Bay’s Brandon Lowe and Randy Arozarena did hit the first two balls to the outfield, flyouts to left.
He struck out Josh Lowe, Jose Diri and Taylor Walls—all looking–in the eighth.
Cionel Pérez retired the first two batters he faced until Diaz reached on a single to center. He struck out Brandon Lowe to end it after Orioles pitchers retired 26 in a row.
Much of Orioles’ early offense was provided by Ryan O’Hearn, who homered, leading off the fourth against Taj Bradley (1-4). It was his ninth. O’Hearn singled with one out in the eighth, stole second and scored on Jordan Westburg’s triple.
Gunnar Henderson’s three-run home run in the ninth against Phil Maton scored Connor Norby, who singled, and Cedric Mullins, who walked. It was Henderson’s 20th home run and the Orioles’ 100th of the season.