Rookie right-hander Grayson Rodriguez left to a smattering of boos at Camden Yards in his latest outing for the Orioles.
Welcome to the harsh side of the major leagues.
Many fans stood and applauded Rodriguez as he made the slow walk to the dugout. To the few who might have voiced their displeasure, manager Brandon Hyde said, “I think the people have to be a little more patient with a young player, and facing a really good club that has a couple of superstars in it, good major league players. Every night’s not the Super Bowl, things happen, and he’s going to make his next start.”
The phenom suffered his first career loss in a 9-5 setback against the Los Angeles Angels on May 15. Rodriguez allowed a career-high eight runs on a career-high nine hits, including a pair of towering homers. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound right-hander walked three and struck out three in 3.1 innings, the shortest outing of his season.
Those growing pains were to be expected for Rodriguez as he adjusts to life in the majors. Hitters are making adjustments to his fastball, and now he’ll need to tweak his repertoire of pitches.
Rodriguez fell to 2-1 on the season and his ERA rose from 5.08 to 6.57 in his eighth start.
“I’m just picking and choosing the things to learn from each game,” Rodriguez said. “Obviously, you learn the best from your mistakes. It’s unfortunate that things like this happen, but ultimately I’m going to learn the most from this one.”
His counterpart on the Angels, Shohei Ohtani, had a much different night.
Ohtani improved to 5-1 on the season despite allowing five runs with four hits, two walks, five strikeouts and three home runs in seven innings.
At the plate, he became the first starting pitcher to reach base safely five times (four hits and a walk) in a game since the Yankees’ Mel Stottlemyre (five hits) did it on September 26, 1964, at the Washington Senators.
Ohtani was a double shy of becoming the first starting pitcher in MLB history to hit for the cycle.
“He’s one of the greatest players that we’ve seen,” Hyde said. “A special talent.”
Cedric Mullins Shining … Again
Orioles center fielder Cedric Mullins became the seventh player in club history to hit for the cycle when he accomplished that feat on May 12.
He joined Austin Hays, Jonathan Villar, Félix Pié, Aubrey Huff, Cal Ripken, Jr. and Brooks Robinson as Orioles who have hit for the cycle.
“That’s a highly anticipated moment right there,” Mullins said postgame. “It was huge for me to come through for the team. We needed some more runs going to that last inning. Just a big moment all around.”
That accomplishment only underscores what Mullins has brought to the club throughout the past few seasons.
In 2021, he managed to become part of the 30-30 club when he hit 30 homers and stole 30 bases.
This season, Mullins has hit safely in 9 of his last 10 starts and in 15 of his last 18 since April 24. He hit his sixth homer of the season in the fifth inning — a 408-foot shot — against the Angels on May 15. Mullins is one of four players with two career home runs against Ohtani, along with Texas’ Nathaniel Lowe and Toronto’s Matt Chapman and George Springer.
Joey Ortiz Gets Another Opportunity
Orioles prospect Joey Ortiz played well enough in his first trip to the major leagues to earn another promotion.
Ortiz was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on May 15 after the Orioles optioned reliever Nick Vespi and outfielder Kyle Stowers, who has struggled in the major leagues this season.
Ortiz made his big league debut on April 27, part of a four-game series in Detroit. He played second base and managed a two-run single to right field and a sacrifice fly in a 7-4 win against the Tigers.
In his second stint with the club, Ortiz went 0-for-3 in a 4-0 loss to the Pirates on April 14. He also struck out as a pinch hitter May 15 against the Angels.
Now, Ortiz just wants to do his part to keep the Orioles in the win column as long as he’s with the club.
“Everyone is playing well,” he said. “They’re winning, and it’s definitely something I want to be part of.”
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