The Baltimore Orioles rolled to a 8-7 victory over the Boston Red Sox at JetBlue Park on Sunday in spring training action. Samuel Basallo paced the offense, going 2-for-2 with a double and two RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. Chris Bassitt worked 2.0 innings on the mound, allowing 2 earned runs on 2 hits. The Orioles finished with 11 hits on the day while holding the Sox to 9. The Orioles will take confidence from a well-rounded effort on both sides of the ball. Spring training is about building toward the regular season, and this was a step in the right direction.
Key Performers
Samuel Basallo was the offensive highlight at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a double and two RBI. His extra-base hit was a key moment in the game. The Orioles will be hoping for more of the same as the spring continues.
Heston Kjerstad also contributed, going 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI, Dylan Beavers chipped in, going 2-for-4 with two doubles, and Weston Wilson added to the attack, going 1-for-3 with a double. Multiple contributors at the plate made life difficult for the opposing pitching staff.
On the other side of the diamond, Willson Contreras led the Sox offense with a 2-for-2 with a home run, a double, and three RBI day. Allan Castro also contributed, going 1-for-2 with two RBI. Caleb Durbin added a 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Orioles pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Chris Bassitt got the start, running into trouble, working 2.0 innings while allowing 2 earned runs on 2 hits. He threw 40 pitches in the outing. The coaching staff will review his performance as they continue mapping out the pitching plan for the regular season.
The bullpen combined for 6.3 innings of work, allowing 4 earned runs while striking out eight. The Orioles continue to sort through their relief options as they build their Opening Day bullpen. Every inning pitched in the spring is an opportunity for pitchers to make their case for a spot on the roster when the games start counting. Alex Pham recorded the save to close out the game.
Among the relievers, Albert Suárez stood out with 2.0 innings of scoreless work, striking out two. It was an impressive showing that could factor into roster decisions.
How It Happened
Sox got on the board first with a run in the first inning. The Orioles struck back with a run in the second. Sox answered with five runs in the third. The Orioles responded with four runs in the fifth. Sox countered with a run in the fifth. The Orioles struck back with three runs in the sixth. The Orioles spread their scoring across three different innings, applying consistent pressure throughout the game. The Orioles out-hit Sox 11-9 on the day, with 5 errors committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 9,278 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
The Orioles will look to build on this positive performance as spring training winds down. With the regular season rapidly approaching, outings like this one provide confidence and continuity for a roster that is rounding into form. Every remaining exhibition game is another chance to sharpen the details before the games start counting for real.