Orioles produce on offense and Rogers provides another strong start in 8-3 win over Rangers

BALTIMORE—What happened? After five straight games decided by three runs or fewer, the Orioles’ offense provided eight runs and Trevor Rogers gave them six strong innings.

The result was an 8-3 Orioles win over the Texas Rangers before 14,324 at Camden Yards on Wednesday.

The Orioles finished their first week 3-3. They beat Minnesota two of three, and after losing the first two against the Rangers, had their first multi-home run game of the season.

Samuel Basallo and Dylan Beavers, who made their debuts on consecutive days last August, hit their first home runs of this season. Basallo’s was 436 feet and landed beyond the center-field wall.

Beavers had his first three-hit game.

Leody Taveras, who was signed by the Orioles as a free agent last November, started for the first time and had two hits, including a two-run double in the third. He also walked twice.

Each of the starters reached base.

With uncertainty about Zach Eflin’s future after he left Tuesday night’s game with right elbow discomfort, manager Craig Albernaz was pleased with his club’s approach.

“They don’t waver. They fight, they compete,” Albernaz said. “Know right from the jump when everyone showed up it was still the same energy.

“Obviously, a lot of people were thinking about Zach, you know? But also, be ready to go out there and compete, and it was a great team win. Leody coming up big. Such a pro. Ready for the moment, ready for his time.”

The Orioles scored two runs in the second an a sacrifice fly by Jeremiah Jackson and an RBI double by Taylor Ward. Taveras’ double against Nathan Eovaldi gave them a 4-o lead.

Basallo’s home run, Jackson’s run-scoring single and Ward’s sacrifice fly gave the Orioles a 7-2 lead. Beavers’ home run made it 8-2.

Rogers, who threw seven scoreless innings on Opening Day, closed the homestand by allowing just two runs on six hits in six innings.

Albert Suárez, whose contract was purchased from Triple-A Norfolk before the game, recorded a three-inning save, allowing a home run to Corey Seager in the eighth.

It was his first save since August 6^th, 2017 when he was San Francisco.

Is the the offense starting to click? Ward, who had six hits in the past two games, thinks the Orioles’ offense is starting to heat up.

“I think this has always been what it should be, and I think there’s guys right now that are still kind of trying to get their footing,” Ward said. “So, I think it’s going to be really exciting this year if we just stay on the gas and guys are doing good stuff in the cage and taking good at-bats. I think it’s just going to be a fun year for us, offensively, for sure.”

Albernaz was impressed by Basallo’s power.

“I asked him after he hit that home run, ‘How did that feel?’” Albernaz said.

“It felt really good, especially because the last few days, I felt like I had some close misses at the plate,” Basallo said through a team translator. “So it felt really good to get that one.”

Beavers was excited to homer in the same game as Basallo. 

“It’s early in the year, and we got challenged early, so to respond and not let it snowball into something more, I think the whole lineup did a great job,” Beavers said.

What did Rogers think of the offense? Rogers has a 1.38 ERA in his first two starts. He struck out three and walked one. On Opening Day, he left with a 2-0 lead after seven. This time, the Orioles led 8-2 after six.

“One through nine, they did a solid job going up against a veteran guy [Nathan Eovaldi] in the league who’s been doing it at an elite level for a long time, and I give credit to the hitters today,” Rogers said.

“They made my job easy. I was able to go out there and give a little bit more room on the plate just because I had that big cushion of run support, so a really solid job out of the guys.” 

How was Suárez’s day? Suárez took a 6 a.m. flight from Memphis where Norfolk was playing and arrived in the clubhouse about two hours, 20 minutes before game time.

“I was mentally prepared,” he said. “And I mean, I come here to do whatever it takes to win the game. So, that’s what I basically did out there.”

Suárez seems to adjust easily.

“I’ve done it before,” he said. “It helped me to prepare mentally and physically, I work every day to be ready for any situation. For me, it’s easier to be mentally than physically prepared.”

What does it mean? For the first time, a game ended on a successful ABS challenge. Basallo challenged home plate umpire Manny Gonzalez’s ball call on Evan Carter in the ninth.

“I didn’t think it was a strike,” Suárez said. “And then he challenged it, so I was like, OK, let’s see.’ Good thing we got it. I think I like it more after what happened today.” 

What’s the stat of the day? 1. Colton Cowser’s sacrifice bunt was the Orioles’ first of the season. Last season, the Orioles had just four in 2025, fewest in the majors.

What’s the word? “It’s something you never want to see for anybody, especially how hard that guy works. With just how hard he tried to push through the back stuff last year, he got that all cleaned up and thinks he’s ready to go, and unfortunately that pops up. It’s very, very unfortunate for that to happen to him, and we’re all pulling for him.”-Rogers on Eflin’s elbow injury after he returned from back surgery. 

What’s going on in the minor leagues? Jackson Holliday had two more hits in Triple-A Norfolk’s 4-3 loss to Memphis in 10 innings. Holliday continued his rehab assignment after surgery to remove the hamate bone from his right wrist.

In his first rehab appearance, Andrew Kittredge allowed one run on two hits, walking one and striking out one. He retired two batters and threw 19 pitches. Kittredge is on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation.

Brandon Young allowed one run on five hits in five innings. He struck out four without walking a batter. 

What’s next? After a day off on Thursday, the Orioles open a three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Kyle Bradish (0-1, 3.86) is scheduled to start against Mitch Keller (0-0, 0.00). Game time is 4:12 p.m.

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