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Orioles’ Adley Rutschman drops brutally honest admission on grand slam vs. Astros
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- Orioles’ Adley Rutschman drops brutally honest admission on grand slam vs. Astros
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It was one-way traffic in the Baltimore Orioles favor, as Adley Rutschman and Jeremiah Jackson led a 10-3 win over the Houston Astros in the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader, backed by two grand slams and a pitching staff in command.
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Rutschman found his moment in the fifth inning against left-hander Steven Okert . After falling behind 0-2 with one out and the bases loaded, he worked the count back before driving a pitch deep to left-center. Houston outfielder Brice Matthews made a leaping attempt at the wall, but the ball popped out of his glove on impact and landed in the bullpen, turning what looked like a catch into a grand slam.
Rutschman admitted after the game he initially believed the play had been completed .
“I thought I was getting a run in on a sac fly, if not,” he said. “So, just trying to have a positive outlook, but worked out good. I couldn’t tell if [the relievers] were like, ‘Oh my gosh, he caught it, what a great catch,’ or he didn’t. There was two ways it could have gone.”
The blast was Rutschman’s third career grand slam and gave Baltimore a 5-0 lead. He also managed a single in the game.
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The Orioles offense added another grand slam in the seventh when Jackson connected off Jason Alexander, stretching the lead to 10-1. Jackson also contributed an RBI double and finished with five RBIs, bringing his season tally to a team-high 24.
Right-hander Chris Bassitt supported the offense with 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball, allowing seven hits while striking out seven and walking one in his longest outing of the season.
The game also featured statistical milestones. It was Baltimore’s eighth franchise game with multiple grand slams and the first since 2015. Moreover, it was the first time since 2024 that a team produced multiple grand slams in one game.
Rutschman, returning from a left ankle inflammation IL stint (April 11–21), has remained hot, hitting .440 (11-for-25) with four homers and 14 RBIs in six games since returning. On the season, he is batting .356 with a 1.067 OPS across 16 games.
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Defensively, he also threw out Jose Altuve attempting to steal second. Jackson supplied offense support as the Orioles improved their form, while Isaac Paredes collected three hits for the Astros, who have now lost four of five. Starter Peter Lambert went 4 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on two hits, while Blaze Alexander reached on an overturned ABS strike call.
Baltimore split the doubleheader after a later 11-5 loss, with manager Craig Albernaz absent due to illness. Rookie catcher Samuel Basallo continues to factor into the roster discussion as the Orioles sit third in the AL East with a 15-16 record, behind the second-place Tampa Bay Rays (18-12).
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