Baz gets 1st win, Alonso homers in Orioles’ 5-3 win over Astros

BALTIMORE–What happened? Two of the most prominent acquisitions of last December played key roles in an Orioles win on Tuesday night. Starting pitcher Shane Baz and first baseman Pete Alonso, who joined the Orioles within eight days of each other, had starring roles in a 5-3 win over the Houston Astros before 13,233 at Camden Yards.

Baz won his first game in six starts, allowing a run on six hits in 5 2/3 innings. Alonso hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning, his fourth.

Brice Matthews homered with one out in the fifth inning for the only run against Baz (1-2).

The Orioles (14-15) scored twice in the first inning against Kai-Wei Teng (1-2). Adley Rutschman’s RBI double scored Gunnar Handerson, and Samuel Basallo’s double scored Rutschman.

Alonso’s home run against Ryan Weiss in the fifth gave the Orioles a 4-1 lead.

“Everyone knows how good Pete is,” Rutschman said. “The guy is all-time. I think, just for him, it was nice to see him get rewarded for his good swing decisions, and hit the ball hard. That’s the guy he is, and he’s a leader in this clubhouse and a leader on the field.”

Baz was pulled with two outs in the sixth after allowing a soft single to right by Christian Walker and an infield single to Yainer Diaz.

Rico Garcia struck out Dustin Harris to end the sixth. After Andrew Kittredge gave up a single to Cam Smith and a double to Matthews to begin the seventh, he struck out Carlos Correa. Yordan Alvarez, who’s leading the American League in most major offensive categories, was walked intentionally to load the bases. Kittredge struck out Isaac Paredes and Jose Altuve to end the seventh.

The Orioles added on in the seventh. After Henderson walked and stole second, Rutschman drove him in on a two-out single for a 5-1 lead.

Houston (11-19) made it closer in the eighth when they scored two. Harris’ triple to right scored Walker and Matthews’ RBI single scored Harris against Anthony Nunez.

Ryan Helsley pitched a clean ninth for his seventh save.

Was this Baz’s best start? Rutschman was impressed with how Baz threw.

“I thought he was really attacking tonight,” he said. “Did a great job mixing both breaking pitches, both fastballs, and I thought it was super competitive all the way through, and I thought he pitched really good.”

Baz thought it was the best he pitched this season.

“I feel like just fastball command was good,” he said. “I felt like I could throw anything in any count. Just one of those outings where I felt like I could mix really well. Just,the command’s good enough to keep them off balance with the fastball. Just being able to go in and up when I want and stuff like that. Yeah, definitely the best so far.”

Manager Craig Albernaz made the decision to pull Baz, though he wanted to stay in the game after two soft hits.

“I mean, really bad,” Baz said. “Obviously you turn around and Rico’s running in and you’re like, ‘All right. Should be good.’ I always want the ball and I want to stay in, especially to finish my innings and stuff like that. No, Skip made a good call there.”

Why was the decision to walk Alvarez made? Albernaz was asked if it was an easy or difficult decision to put the tying run on in the seventh.

“I would say both, honestly,” Albernaz said. “It’s a tough decision because you don’t want to load the bases for any pitcher. Now you’re forcing them, kind of in a tough spot, to throw strikes. But also, once that ball went down the line, the base was open.

“We had [Grant Wolfram] up, but to bring him in for Yordan and then the righties behind him, who are, like we just talked about, really good hitters, and we liked the matchup with Kitt with those righties. So, once that base was open, I didn’t say we had to do it, but that’s what really swayed my decision. And Kitt did a great job of just making pitches.”

The Orioles had a 4-1 lead when the decision was made to walk Alvarez. Kittredge was realistic about getting out of the inning.

“Limit the damage, honestly,” he said “With second and third there with one out, kind of just assume that guy on third is going to score one way or another.

“I think that helps get back in the right frame of mind, just attacking guys, and if he puts the ball in play, chances are he’s going to score. But then, in the heat of the moment, the count and the way it worked out, it was just, make some pitches. Fortunately, I got away with that last one. That last pitch to Altuve was kind of a hanging breaking ball, but I just wanted to attack and go at guys and make them earn it.”

It was just Kittredge’s third appearance of the season. He began the year on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation. He thought it was good to have a high-stress inning.

“Yeah, for sure. The way that inning started was obviously not the way you want it,” Kittredge said. “The first hit, it just kind of found a hole. And then the next guy put a good swing on a ball. I think I broke his bat too, but then gets the double, and you’re right in it. That’s not how I was planning it, but I’m glad it worked out.”

What does it mean? The Orioles rebounded from two listless games and played sharply against a faltering team.

What’s the word? “I feel like all the outings so far have just been OK. Kind of just waiting for that one that kind of gets you on track.”–Baz on his season.

What’s the stat of the day? 0. Garcia hasn’t allowed a hit in his first seven appearances at home. Bryan Baker (9 in 2023) and Shawn Armstrong (8 in 2021) are the others.

What’s going on in the minor leagues? Adam Retzbach homered and drove in four runs, Anderson De Los Santos hit a three-run homer and Aron Estrada also hit a home run in Double-A Chesapeake’s 11-3 win over Erie.

Evan Yates gave up two runs on five hits in five innings.

Chesapeake placed right-hander Jean Carlos Henriquez on the injured list. Right-hander Jeisson Cabrera was demoted from Norfolk.

Outfielders Vance Honeycutt and RJ Austin are on the injured list. Honeycutt has a thumb injury and Austin a left hamstring injury.

Catcher Colin Tuft hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs as High-A Frederick beat Brooklyn, 6-2.

Denton Biller allowed five runs while recording just two outs in the first inning in Single-A Delmarva’s 17-1 loss to Hill City.

Triple-A Norfolk’s game at Nashville was postponed.

After being released by the Orioles, first baseman TT Bowens signed with Veracruz in the Mexican League.

What’s next? Chris Bassitt (1-2, 6.75) will start against Peter Lambert (1-1, 3.27) on Wednesday night at 6:35.

Call for questions: Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com