BALTIMORE — The win wasn’t pretty, but the last swing sure was.
Adley Rutschman came up to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning with the chance to give the Orioles their ugliest win of the season — much better than the alternative.
On the second pitch from Oakland Athletics reliever Trevor May, Rutschman launched a center-cut fastball 405 feet to right-center field to deliver the Orioles their first walk-off win of the season, 8-7.
Rutschman had been 0-for-4 before the solo home run, which he said in a television interview with MASN was his first career walk-off homer at any level. The Orioles almost didn’t need Rutschman’s heroics after having runners on second and third with no outs in the eighth, but the offense squandered that opportunity.
The victory delivers Baltimore (7-6) the four-game series victory over the visiting Athletics.
Irvin struggles again
Last week, the Orioles entered a game against the Texas Rangers needing a starting pitcher often dubbed an “innings eater” to, well, eat some innings. Kyle Gibson, who the team signed for $10 million in the offseason, did just that, pitching seven innings of two-run ball in a win.
Manager Brandon Hyde needed the same thing Thursday from Cole Irvin, the other starting pitcher the Orioles acquired this offseason who also has the reputation for compiling innings. Baltimore’s starters haven’t been going deep in games, and Hyde’s bullpen was taxed.
Irvin couldn’t repeat Gibson’s feat, though. The left-hander pitched just four innings, allowing five hits and six runs while walking two and striking out four against his former team.
The Orioles in January traded infield prospect Darell Hernaiz to the Athletics for Irvin in a move to add a left-handed starter and fortify a starting rotation that lacked experience. But Irvin has not performed like the pitcher he was in Oakland the past two seasons. Through three starts, Irvin has pitched just 12 2/3 innings and walked eight batters while recording a 10.66 ERA. The 29-year-old has just as many outings under five innings this season (three) as he did in 30 starts with Oakland last year.
Athletics left fielder Brent Rooker continued to be a thorn in the Orioles’ side in the final contest of a four-game series. Rooker, who hit a three-run home run in Oakland’s 8-4 win Wednesday, drove in the Athletics’ first four runs with a sacrifice fly in the first and a three-run home run off a center-cut fastball from Irvin in the third.
The worst sequence for Irvin, however, came in the fourth. He issued back-to-back walks to the Nos. 8 and 9 hitters with two outs and then allowed a two-run single to Esteury Ruiz.
Bats stay hot
Despite his tough afternoon, Irvin exited with a 7-6 lead. After going three-up, three-down in the first, the Orioles then had a stretch of 15 straight quality plate appearances, most of which came against Athletics starter Adam Oller.
In the span between the second and third innings, the Orioles were 8-for-11 with six singles, a double, a home run, a hit by pitch, a walk, two sacrifice flies, two lineouts and an RBI groundout.
Ryan O’Hearn, the newest Oriole, was the one that turned the faucet on — in more ways than one. The first baseman, who made his Orioles debut Thursday after having his contract selected from Triple-A Norfolk, said before the game he needed a “briefing” on the club’s new water-themed celebrations. He roped a two-run single in the second to give the Orioles a 2-1 lead. Jorge Mateo added another run with a sacrifice fly.
Ryan Mountcastle led off the third with a home run to tie the game at 4 after Rooker’s three-run blast. The 416-foot homer to center field was Mountcastle’s fourth of the series and sixth of the season.
Adam Frazier (single), O’Hearn (sacrifice fly) and Mateo (groundout) all drove in a run in the frame to give Baltimore a 7-4 lead. Frazier’s single scored Gunnar Henderson, who roped a double to right field after going 1-for-16 at the plate.
Around the horn
— Before the game, the Orioles designated catcher Anthony Bemboom for assignment and selected O’Hearn’s contract, bringing up the first baseman from Norfolk. O’Hearn was one of several left-handed hitters vying for a roster spot in spring training. The club broke camp with Kyle Stowers on its bench but sent the 25-year-old down last weekend to get more at-bats in Triple-A.
— Outfielder Anthony Santander wasn’t in the lineup for the second straight game Thursday because of back soreness. Hyde said the slugger is “feeling a lot better” and that he was an option to pinch hit Thursday.
— Reliever Mychal Givens threw a bullpen session Thursday and is “getting close” to beginning his minor league rehabilitation assignment, Hyde said. The veteran right-hander hasn’t pitched this season after injuring his left knee in spring training.
Orioles at White Sox
Friday, 7:10 p.m.
