The Baltimore Orioles' 5-3 win over the Houston Astros not only got them closer to .500, but it was a step in the right direction for starting pitcher Shane Baz. The right-hander allowed just one run on six hits over 5.2 innings, with six strikeouts against one walk.
Baz's only blemish was a solo homer by Brice Matthews in the top of the fifth. Manager Craig Albernaz pulled the Texas native with two runners on and two outs in the sixth before Rico Garcia struck out Dustin Harris to end the frame.
This was Baz's second start of the season in which he allowed fewer than three runs, with the first one being in a 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 4. Tuesday's game was also the 6-foot-3, 200-pounder's first win as an Oriole, and he's now 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA.
Baltimore acquired Baz from the Tampa Bay Rays in December for four prospects and a 2026 Competitive Balance Round A draft pick before giving him a five-year, $68 million contract extension in March. The 26-year-old hasn't been as effective as the Orioles need him to be for most of this season, but Tuesday showed what he's capable of.
Designated hitter Samuel Basallo is another player showing his capabilities. The rookie is hitting .550 with 11 hits, two homers, five RBIs, and four runs scored over his last six games.
Basallo went 2-for-4 with an RBI double on Tuesday. Catcher Adley Rutschman opened the scoring with an RBI single off of Kai-Wei Teng in the first before Basallo plated Rutschman on his double to give the Orioles a 2-0 lead. The next run was Matthews' homer in the fifth, but Baltimore first baseman Pete Alonso followed up with a two-run homer in the bottom of the inning. Rutschman then hit another RBI single in the seventh, and Houston only scored two more runs the rest of the game.
Basallo is showing why the Orioles handed him an eight-year, $67 million contract extension in August. The native Dominican was their No. 1 prospect (No. 13 MLB Pipeline) last year, and his current form presents them with a good problem.
Although Basallo is hot, Rutschman has ben unstoppable this season. The 28-year-old is hitting .345 with a 1.018 OPS over 15 games, and both players are catchers.
Currently, Baltimore is primarily using Rutschman behind the dish and Basallo at designated hitter when they're both in the lineup. Rutschman has only one more season of team control, but the club might want to extend him if he maintains his momentum. It may not have originally anticipated using Basallo at designated hitter long-term, but there's no reason to change the setup if it's working.
The Orioles are now 14-15. Up next is a rematch against the Astros on Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. ET. Right-handed pitcher Chris Bassitt will start against Houston right-hander Peter Lambert.