Povich pitches well in Orioles’ win over Twins; Braves-O’s tie in other split-squad game

SARASOTA–What’s happening? The Orioles played two games on Saturday, one of two times this spring they’re scheduled for split-squad games.

Manager Craig Albernaz stayed in Sarasota for the game against the Minnesota Twins while bench coach Donnie Ecker traveled 25 miles to southern Sarasota County for the other game against the Atlanta Braves at Cool Today Park in North Port.

Cade Povich threw 3 2/3 innings, allowing one run on one hit, walking one and striking out one in a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Twins before 6,197 at Ed Smith Stadium on Saturday.

Luis De Léon pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing a hit in a 2-2 tie with the Braves before 6,305.

Jackson Holliday, who’s recovering from surgery to remove the hamate bone from his right wrist, hit 40 balls off a tee on Saturday.

“I know something about the hamate. I know they don’t really need it. I might just tell my siblings and everyone I know just take it out,” he joked.

Reliever Hans Crouse, who has yet to pitch this spring, is scheduled to pitch for the first time on March 15^th. He hopes to pitch in three games before the team leaves Florida on March 21^st.

Who stood out? Povich threw 53 pitches. Nine of his 11 outs were on ground balls.

“Really just trying to fill the zone up, attack guys, would have liked to get a first-pitch out had I been a little more efficient in the first inning,” Povich said. “That’s the game plan. Attack guys, get ahead, win some early count leverage and then you can go to different pitches to get ground balls and get guys to get themselves out.”

Albernaz was pleased.

“He did a good job of changing speeds and keeping them off-balance, which led to those ground balls,” Albernaz said. “It was a very encouraging outing for Cade.”

Grant Wolfram got the third out of the fourth and worked a clean fifth, and Keegan Akin threw a scoreless sixth. Dietrich Enns allowed a run in the seventh while Yaramil Hiraldo and minor leaguer Zane Barnhart each pitched scoreless innings.

Heston Kjerstad, who was batting leadoff, hit an opposite-field two-run home run, his second of the spring, against left-hander Connor Prielipp.

“That was awesome,” Albernaz said. “Tough lefty. He stayed in there. He drove the crap out of it to left-center field. That was a really impressive at-bat and swing. That’s what Heston can do. That’s the talent he has, and that’s what he’s capable of.”

In the game at North Port, Boston Bateman, who was obtained from San Diego in the trade for Ryan O’Hearn and Ramón Laureano, allowed two runs in three innings.

Cameron Weston allowed one hit in three scoreless innings.

The Orioles scored two runs in the top of the ninth on an RBI triple by Jordan Sanchez and a run-scoring single by Jaiden Lo Re.

What’s up with Ryan Noda? The 29-year-old first baseman was selected off waivers by the Orioles from the Chicago White Sox, the fourth organization he played for last season.

Noda, who’s in camp on a minor league contract, is 1-for-13 (.077) with five bases on balls. 

“I think there’s not enough at-bats to tell how it is going,” Noda said. “Other than that, I think it’s going pretty well.”

Noda replaced Pete Alonso at first base in the eighth inning and did not bat.

He had an interesting December. The Orioles designated him for assignment the day he was getting married, but the announcement wasn’t made until the next day.

“It’s hard to make the most special day of your life, other than having a kid, bad,” Noda said. “I’m still playing baseball. I know how good I am. I was battling a lot of injuries last year, switching teams all over the place, traveling a ton while hurt, trying to play though it. Healthy now, ready to get back to playing, trying to help this squad any way I can get to the playoffs and win the World Series.”

The Orioles are packed with first basemen and outfielders, and it will be hard for Noda to make the team.

“If I can just do what I know I can do, it doesn’t really matter what else is going on,” Noda said. “I do a lot of unique things that you can’t really teach, baseball IQ, discipline at the plate. I’m feeling good at the plate, the first time in a while.” 

Blaze plays center? Starting in center field for the first time, Blaze Alexander jumped over the center field fence in an attempt to catch Brooks Lee’s drive in the sixth.

Rightfielder Leody Taveras retrieved the ball. Lee made it to third on the triple as Alexander jumped back over the fence after throwing his glove on the field.

What’s the word? “I think it’s easy to come in here and maybe feel a little pressure in spring. He seemed cool, calm and collected.”-Povich on shortstop Wehiwa Aloy, a first-round draft choice last season, who started behind him. 

What’s the number? 0.00. Wolfram has allowed one hit in five scoreless innings this spring.

What’s the record? 7-6-2 The Orioles will host a Toronto Blue Jays split-squad on Sunday. Tyler Wells will start for the Orioles. Cody Ponce will start for the Blue Jays. Wells, who’s ticketed for the bullpen, has allowed one hit in five scoreless innings.

Ben Wagner and Ben McDonald will broadcast the game on MASN. Brett Hollander and Josh Lewin will call the game on WBAL Radio/98 Rock.

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com