Bassitt’s pitching, Taveras’ throw, Basallo’s tag lead Orioles to 2-1 win over Athletics

BALTIMORE—On Sunday morning, the Orioles announced that for the first time in Craig Albernaz’s managerial tenure they’d use an opener.

Left-hander Keegan Akin pitched a spotless first inning against the Athletics, striking out Nick Kurtz, retiring Shea Langeliers on a grounder to the mound and striking out Brent Rooker.

A day earlier, Kurtz and Langeliers scored four runs for the pesky A’s, who won the first two games of a three-game series.

Chris Bassitt, who was supposed to start, came in to start the second and allowed a run on four hits in six gritty innings as the Orioles pulled out a 2-1 win before 24,213 at Camden Yards. It was preserved by centerfielder Leody Taveras and catcher Samuel Basallo, who combined on a run-saving play in the seventh.

The Orioles (18-23), who had lost eight of 10 and on Monday begin a series against the New York Yankees, who swept them in four games last weekend, didn’t make it easy on themselves.

Gunnar Henderson’s infield single in the third and Dylan Beavers’ RBI single in the sixth were their only runs. In that same inning, they again had the bases loaded, with just one out, and failed to add to their slim advantage.

It was their third opportunity to score with the bases loaded, and they couldn’t take advantage of any of them. The Athletics deserved credit for one shutdown. In the fifth, Adley Rutschman hit a long drive to left-center that was caught on a leap by leftfielder Tyler Soderstrom after a long run.

In the sixth, after Beavers’ single scored Basallo, who doubled, Weston Wilson walked to load the bases. Blaze Alexander and Henderson struck out to end the inning, with Henderson throwing his pink bat in disgust.

Bassitt (3-2) allowed a double to Soderstrom, his first batter in the second. Jacob Wilson, who’d later leave the game with a left shoulder injury, reached on an error by Bassitt, and Soderstrom scored on Carlos Cortes’ sacrifice fly.

After Wilson’s fourth-inning single, Bassitt retired nine straight until Cortes singled with one out in the seventh. He stole second, and with two outs, Zack Gelof hit a line-drive single to center.

That’s when Taveras and Basallo saved the game for the Orioles. Taveras charged the ball and made a perfect throw home. Cortes didn’t slide but crashed into Basallo after he had caught Taveras’ one-hop throw. But Basallo more than held his ground, knocking Cortes to his left. Albernaz came onto the field quickly after the play to ensure that nothing escalated after the collision.

“It’s a tough play for both,” Albernaz said. “Leody has to read the right hop all the way out in center field and come in full speed to attack it and then gather yourself and then make an accurate throw from 250 feet away.

“It was a perfect one-hop and then with Sammy knowing how important that run is to catch and then obviously you don’t know you’re going to get plowed over, especially with the rules nowadays you kind of assume the slide, so Sammy did an outstanding job.”

Anthony Nunez walked Kurtz and Langeliers in the eighth, struck out Rooker and retired Soderstrom on a fly ball to right.

Rico Garcia continued his mastery, walking one but retiring the Athletics (21-19) in a hitless ninth for his third save. He hasn’t allowed a hit in any of his first nine appearances, tying the team record set by Bryan Baker in 2023.

The Orioles claimed right-handed pitcher Christian Roa off waivers from Minnesota. He had a 5.19 ERA in seven games with Houston. He walked seven and struck out six and hit three batters in 8 2/3 innings.

How difficult was the play at the plate? Had Basallo not held on to the ball, the tying run would have scored.

“Anytime a play happens at the plate, I’m expecting it, just so I’m ready for it,” Basallo said through a team translator. “Sure enough in that moment, it did happen, and thankfully I was ready for it, and I was able to, brace for impact.”

Taveras made a terrific throw.

“It was a great feeling,” he said. “In that situation you have that on your mind. You anticipate those things. Finding out we got the out right there.”

The play saved the game for Bassitt.

“I thought it was kind of a good play on all three people,” Bassitt said. “For Leody to make the throw and, obviously, Sammy to make the play, too. And honestly, the baserunner I thought was, those are one of those plays that can get kind of dirty. I thought he tried the best to, like, kind of protect everybody. I think if he slides there, someone’s probably going to get hurt. He definitely didn’t try to truck him, or he probably would have lost that battle.”

What was Bassitt’s day like? Bassitt said he found out about his bulk pitcher assignment a few days ago. He last had that role in 2018, and it didn’t bother him.

“It’s just like coming out of the bullpen. I’ve done it before,” he said. “Just trying to get back to myself. I felt like the last three starts, you know, the Miami start didn’t end well by any means, but I thought the last three starts, I felt really, really good about a lot of my pitches. Yeah, so just getting it back to kind of who I am.”

Albernaz appreciated Bassitt’s acceptance of the change.

“We gave him a heads-up that we were thinking about it and he was all for it,” Albernaz said. “So, that willingness from a veteran, especially an established guy like Bass, was awesome and you never know, because now you’re messing with a starting pitcher’s routine and stuff.

“But he handled it perfectly and especially navigating that seventh. He was up against it. He did a great job of making pitches and Leody made a great throw on that play at the play and Sammy did a great job of holding on, making the tag.”

What does it mean? The Orioles badly needed a win, and even thought they didn’t produce much offensively, their pitching and defense was fine.

What’s the word? “I thought it was impressive. He really got the ball there in time and honestly, I think it’s one of the best throws and plays we’ve had this year.”-Basallo on Taveras’ throw. 

What’s the stat of the day? 25. The Orioles held an opponent to fewer than three runs for the first time in 25 games. They allowed two runs to San Francisco on April 12^th.

What’s going on in the minor leagues? Creed Willems hit a three-run home run in Triple-A Norfolk’s 4-1 win over Gwinnett. Nestor German allowed an unearned run on four hits, striking out six in 5 2/3 innings.

Jackson Holliday was hitless in two at-bats with a walk, and Heston Kjerstad was 0-for-3 in Double-A Chesapeake’s 9-3 loss to Altoona.

Wehiwa Aloy homered three times and Elis Cuevas hit two home runs in High-A Frederick’s 9-1 win over Jersey Shore. Reed Trimble, Ahoy and Ike Irish led off the first with home runs.

Left-handed starter Joseph Dzierwas was removed due to a laceration over his right eyebrow suffered on a bad hope while backing up a base. Brayan Orrantia allowed seven runs, five unearned in 1 2/3 inning in Single-A Delmarva’s 11-3 loss to Salem.

What’s next? The Orioles will open a three-game series with the New York Yankees on Monday night at 6:35. Brandon Young (3-1, 3.45) will start against Ryan Weathers (2-2, 3.03).

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