ARLINGTON, Texas–What happened? The Orioles scored four runs against Texas starter Max Scherzer in the second inning on their way to an 8-4 win over the Texas Rangers on Saturday night.

It was the Orioles’ third straight win and they’ve won both their games since returning from the All-Star break, scoring 17 runs.

Scherzer left the game after two innings because of arm fatigue.

Ramón Urías had a two-run single. Jordan Westburg had a two-run home run. Ryan O’Hearn was on base five times with three walks, a hit-by-pitch and a ninth-inning home run, his 12th. Cedric Mullins hit his 10th home run, giving the Orioles eight players with at least 10 homers.

The Orioles had 12 hits, nine walks and three hit-by-pitches. However, they were 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left 15 runners on base.

“I did think the at-bats were good,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “We left a lot of runners out there, but nice to get so much traffic and make the pitchers work the way they did.”

Oriole starter Grayson Rodriguez improved to 12-4. He allowed two runs on three hits, walking two and striking out eight.

How important was the win to Rodriguez? Rodriguez gave up his two runs and three hits in the second inning. After that, he retired 14 of his final 15 batters.

“I thought he got better as the game went on,” Hyde said. “A little shaky maybe early, allowed a couple runs there, balls on the middle of the plate. But as the game went on. I thought the fastball got even better and stepped on a bunch to get some outs. Went six big innings for us.”

Rodriguez threw 103 pitches in his six innings, too many by his estimation.

“A lot of pitches there the first couple of innings,” he said. “Just wish I had been a little bit more clean at the beginning of the game.”

Rodriguez was pitching for the second time at Globe Life Field, where he made his debut on April 5^th, 2023.

“I think any time I can pitch in the state of Texas is pretty special.,” said Rodriguez, a Texas native. “I have a lot of friends and family that come and were able to make it. They don’t get to make the trip up to Baltimore a whole lot, so any time I can pitch in front of them, it’s pretty special, no matter the outcome.”

Rodriguez didn’t start the 2023 season with the Orioles and was called up to make his first start after Kyle Bradish was hit by a line drive.

“It feels like so long ago,” he said. It’s nearly 16 months since that first game, and he’s learned a lot.

“I don’t even know if I could put that in a sentence,” he said. “It’s just really pitching to big league hitters. There’s nothing like big league hitters. Taking each start, the positives and negatives from them, moving on, being able to flush bad starts, being able to extend a streak of good starts. Yeah, I think there’s a lot that’s been learned in a little over a year.”

Rodriguez has 12 wins, although in contemporary baseball, pitchers’ wins don’t seem to mean as much as they once did.

“I don’t really think about it all that much,” Rodriguez said. “Wins are great. As long as the team is being able to win games, I think that’s the most important thing. You go out there every five days, six days and give your team a chance to win,

“I think that’s the most important part. Especially with a lineup like this one, for a starting pitcher it’s nice. They’re going to give you a shot to go out there and throw a lot of innings with the amount of runs that they score.”

Rodriguez got a surprise contribution from Urías, who had three hits for the first time this season. 

“He was really good,” Urías said. “He had one inning where he struggled a little bit. I’m really happy for him, the improvement he has [made].”

Can Stowers fit in? Kyle Stowers was again optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. He was 1-for-1 in his only at-bat while Heston Kjerstad was on the 7-day concussion injured list. The hit started a game-winning rally against the Yankees in the final game before the All-Star break.

“This is a good team problem,” Hyde said. “Kyle’s done everything asked. He’s putting himself in position to be a major league outfielder.

“I’ve been really impressed by Kyle this year; I know it’s a short amount of time. I like the adjustments he’s made with his swing. He’s way better defensively, We’re comfortable putting him out there. It’s one of those numbers things.

“Kyle’s going to get a chance to be an everyday major league player here at some point … You never know which way this game is going to break. He’s put himself in great position to get a shot.”

While Stowers returns to Norfolk, Kjerstad is sufficiently recovered from his concussion to play. He was hit on the helmet by a Clay Holmes pitch, touching off a benches-clearing confrontation between the Yankees and Orioles Kjerstad was 0-for-2 with a walk on Saturday night.

“He took batting practice [Friday], felt a lot better. He’s passed every single day for a few days,” Hyde said. “He had a full workout day [Friday], had him out here early [Saturday] just to make sure.”

Who gets the Wednesday start? After a Monday offday, Albert Suárez will open the Orioles’ series in Miami on Tuesday. Hyde hasn’t decided on his starters for Wednesday and Thursday, but he said that Cole Irvin remains in the bullpen.

Cade Povich hasn’t been in the minor leagues long enough to be recalled for the Wednesday start.

Where has Nittoli been? Vinny Nittoli joined the Orioles on July 13^th and threw two innings against the New York Yankees that day.

The 33-year-old right-hander has been in 14 major league games with five teams—Seattle, Philadelphia, New York Mets, Oakland and the Orioles since 2021.

“It’s a lot,” Nittoli said. “It’s really cool. I get to meet a bunch of new people, some great organizations.”

Nittoli has been with five other organizations—Arizona, Minnesota, Yankees, Toronto and Chicago Cubs in a career that began in 2014. He’s also played independent ball and he’s kept a cap from each major and minor league team he’s played for.

“There’s been a lot of teams I’ve been on now, probably a third of the league,” Nittoli said. “I really am impressed with the analytics and stuff.”

Nittoli would prefer to stay with the Orioles.

“I feel like there’s opportunity for me here,” he said. “I’ve been in every role. Hopefully, I can fit in and help the team win.”

What’s the word?  “It’s really good. We all needed that break. Everybody looks different now. It’s a fresh start, and we’re doing well.”-Urías on the Orioles’ start in the second half.

What does it mean? The Orioles begin the second half with a series win, and after Sunday’s game, will play Miami, which has the worst record in the National League. A winning road trip would be a good way to start the second half.

What’s the stat of the day? 12. The Orioles received 12 free bases, nine on walks and three on hit-by-pitches. The nine walks and 15 left on base were season highs.

What’s going on in the minor leagues? Alex Pham, Cameron Weston (4-5) and Keagan Gillies combined to limit Hartford to four hits in Double-A Bowie’s 3-0 win over the Yard Goats.

Catcher Randy Florentino had three hits and two RBIs in High-A Aberdeen’s 8-5 loss to Wilmington in 10 innings.

Braxton Bragg (2-5) allowed three runs on five hits in 2 2/3 innings in Single-A Delmarva’s 5-3 loss to Down East.

Norfolk’s game with Nashville was rained out. They’ll play a doubleheader on Sunday.

Catcher Connor Pavolony was sent to Bowie from Norfolk. The Baysox activated right-handed pitcher Houston Roth from the 7-day injured list and placed right-hander Dan Hammer on the Development List.

What’s next? Dean Kremer (4-5, 4.38) will face Andrew Heaney (3-10, 3.79) on Sunday at 2:35 p.m. in the final games of the series.

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