The Baltimore Orioles cruised to a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins at Ed Smith Stadium on Saturday in spring training action. Heston Kjerstad paced the offense, going 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. On the mound, Cade Povich turned in a solid outing, working 3.2 innings of 1-run ball with one strikeout. The Orioles finished with 7 hits on the day while holding the Twins to 5. It was an encouraging performance for the Orioles as they continue sharpening the roster for the regular season. Games like these serve as a valuable measuring stick for where the team stands heading into the campaign.
Key Performers
Heston Kjerstad was the offensive highlight at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. The long ball provided a major boost to the offensive attack. It was the kind of day at the plate that suggests good things ahead for the Orioles offense.
Coby Mayo also contributed, going 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI, Brayden Smith chipped in, going 1-for-1, and Adley Rutschman added to the attack, going 1-for-3. It was a balanced attack that kept the pressure on from the first pitch to the last.
On the other side of the diamond, Eric Wagaman led the Twins offense with a 1-for-3 with an RBI day. James Outman also contributed, going 1-for-3 with an RBI. Brooks Lee added a 2-for-3 with a double and a triple effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Orioles pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Cade Povich got the start, grinding through his innings, working 3.2 innings while allowing 1 earned run on 1 hit with one strikeout. He threw 53 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.
The bullpen combined for 5.1 innings of work, allowing 1 earned run while striking out five. The relief corps did its job in protecting the lead after the starter departed. Managing the bullpen workload is a key priority during the spring, and every outing helps the coaching staff gauge who is ready for high-leverage situations. Zane Barnhart recorded the save to close out the game.
Among the relievers, Dietrich Enns stood out with 1.0 innings of 1-run work, striking out two. The outing gave the coaching staff confidence in his ability to contribute this season.
How It Happened
Twins got on the board first with a run in the first inning. The Orioles struck back with two runs in the sixth. Twins answered with a run in the seventh. The Orioles responded with a run in the seventh. The Orioles out-hit Twins 7-5 on the day, with both teams playing clean defense. A crowd of 6,197 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
It was a productive day for the Orioles, who continue to put the pieces in place ahead of the regular season. The coaching staff will take the positives from this outing and use the remaining spring games to finalize the roster. Days like this one suggest the Orioles are heading in the right direction as Opening Day draws closer.