SARASOTA, Fla. — Grayson Rodriguez gave up five runs in the third inning here on March 23, but that wasn’t the big news. This time there actually was a positive.
More important than the five runs he gave up was the scoreless fourth inning he worked after. That’s the inning that had provided the proverbial wall in three previous outings. This time the rookie right-hander with amazing ability and even more hype bounced back and delivered a strong statement.
Like most of the other innings that have gotten away from him, there was one key batter in the middle of that five-run inning. After a hard hit and bad-hop single got past first baseman Ryan Mountcastle, Rodriguez blew away the next two hitters on strikes.
Then, after getting ahead in the count and on the verge of a third straight shutdown inning, Rodriguez hit the next batter with a pitch, setting in motion what appeared to be an “oh no, not again” moment. A pair of ground ball singles set the stage for a three-run homer and it looked like GRod’s night might be over.
But, after a fly ball ended the nightmarish third inning and despite a pitch count already approaching 70, manager Brandon Hyde sent Rodriguez back to the mound for one more inning. Thirteen pitches and two more strikeouts later, Rodriguez’ night was over — and for the first time this month it ended on a positive note.
It should be noted that the March 23 game against the Tigers, which ended in an 8-8 tie, provided an example of how the pitch clock, in effect for the first time this year, can have an adverse effect on pitchers. Even though he’s had some experience with the new rule in the minor leagues, Rodriguez clearly could have benefitted from a slower pace, especially after hitting a batter with two outs and setting up the big inning.
No doubt more important in Hyde’s eyes is the way Rodriguez aggressively took the mound for the fourth inning — and how quickly he dispensed of the next three hitters. In this instance, the good definitely outweighed the bad.
Even after allowing five runs in an inning, Rodriguez ended his spring training on a high note. This time the fourth inning, his undoing previously, may have been the most important of the spring — for both GRod and the Orioles.
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Meanwhile, Hyde announced on March 24 what has been presumed all along, that Kyle Gibson will be the Orioles’ Opening Day starting pitcher.
Jim Henneman can be reached at JimH@pressboxonline.com