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CHICAGO—Kyle Bradish had thrown seven no-hit innings against the Chicago White Sox but after 103 pitches and just five starts into a season delayed by a sprained ulnar collateral ligament, there was no way Orioles manager Brandon Hyde was going to let him pitch the eighth.
Danny Coulombe came in for the eighth, and his first batter, Danny Mendick, homered. The Orioles’ bid for the seventh no-hitter in their history ended, but they one-hit the White Sox for a 4-1 win and sweep of their four-game series before 14,992 at Guaranteed Rate Field on Sunday.
Bradish (1-0) had to wait out an hour, 40-minute rain delay at the start. In his fifth start this season, he equaled his career high with 11 strikeouts. Bradish walked four batters — Andrew Vaughn with one out in the first, Nicky Lopez with two outs in the second, Gavin Sheets leading off the fourth and Chris Julks with one out in the seventh.
Sheets was erased on a double play. Pham reached on an error by Gunnar Henderson at shortstop in the third, but Bradish picked him off.
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In the eighth, Coulombe was removed after Zach Remillard flied to center and Paul DeJong struck out. Tommy Pham flied to right against Yennier Cano. Craig Kimbrel retired the three batters he faced in the ninth for his 12th save and the 429th of his career.
The Orioles were seeking their first no-hitter since John Means threw one — and nearly a perfect game — in Seattle on May 5th, 2021, and their first combined one since July 13th, 1991 when Bob Milacki, Mike Flanagan, Mark Williamson and Gregg Olson no-hit the Oakland Athletics.
Garrett Crochet (5-5) retired the first 11 Orioles until Ryan Mountcastle’s double with two outs in the fourth. He walked Henderson, but struck out Anthony Santander.
Adley Rutschman hit his 10th home run, scoring Jordan Westburg, who led off the sixth with a single, to give the Orioles (33-18) a 2-0 lead.
Crochet equaled his career high with 11 strikeouts. The Orioles struck out 16 times.
Colton Cowser homered to lead off the eighth against Michael Soroka, his seventh. James McCann’s sacrifice fly scored Cedric Mullins in the ninth.