Ynoa makes his case to start
SARASOTA, FLA. — Orioles righthander Gabriel Ynoa faced a Minnesota Twins lineup that included just one bona fide starter, but was nonetheless dominant in his best Grapefruit League start of the season.
Ynoa pitched five scoreless innings in a 6-3 win Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd of 8,171 at Ed Smith Stadium.
Manager Buck Showalter said the competition for the open rotation spot created by right-hander Chris Tillman’s injury could go into the season because the Orioles don’t need a fifth starter until April 15. Still, the competition seems as wide open as it was when it began with none of the candidates taking hold of the opportunity entering the final week of the spring. Although the competition Ynoa faced against the Twins wasn’t formidable, the results were still impressive.
Ynoa allowed just one hit on the night.
“Honestly, I don’t have control of what the team’s decision will be,” Ynoa said through interpreter Ramon
Alarcon. “I just go out there, try to perform, try to do the best I can, so whatever decision they make it’s really up to them.”
It marked the first time in five spring outings that Ynoa went beyond the third inning. In five spring outings, Ynoa has a 1.98 ERA.
“I was trying to use my fastball in and out of the plate,” Ynoa said. “Also, I was using my sinker. So it was really important to me to go as deep as I went. … I definitely felt better today.”
The Orioles hit three home runs, including a two-run opposite-field home run by Chris Davis in the sixth.
Smith back in action: Right fielder Seth Smith, who returned to the lineup for the first time since March 8, had his first multihit game of the spring. Smith, a left-handed hitter, had both his hits off lefty pitching.
Brach allows home run: Right-handed reliever Brad Brach, who entered the night having posted scoreless outings in six of his seven spring appearances, allowed a home run to Tommy Field to open the sixth inning. Brach has a 3.52 ERA this spring.
Gentry dazzles on defense: Nonroster outfielder Craig Gentry had the best defensive play of the night, making a diving catch on Danny Santana’s sinking line drive to right field and throwing to first base to double up runner J.B. Shuck.