O’s power their way to series split
Hays’ go-ahead homer to expanded left field is among 5 solo shots in win
Austin Hays looked back into the Orioles’ dugout as he passed first base, as if he wanted to see the expressions on his teammates faces. The ball that had just left his bat — a rocket that just cleared the newly remodeled leftfield wall — continued a power barrage off Minnesota Twins pitching, and his might’ve been the most impressive blast of the lot.
The 30 extra feet and 13-foot wall that now stands in left field at Oriole Park at Camden Yards has been an imposing figure to beat. The lone player to do so before Thursday was first baseman Ryan Mountcastle. Other balls have launched and hovered and died somewhere short of that fence.
But not Hays’ ball. That long ball was one of five homers from Orioles hitters Thursday, a bombardment that sank the Twins in the series finale, 5-3, to end the four-game set split at two games apiece.
At the beginning of this homestand, manager Brandon Hyde predicted that the balls would begin flying out of the yard soon.
There had been just eight homers between either team at Camden Yards through 11 games. In games 12 and 13, both teams combined to launch nine shots, and Hays became just the second to surpass the challenge
of the new left-field fence.
It was the second of two standout plays from Hays. Playing left field earlier, a double from designated hitter Gary Sánchez looked destined to score a runner. But Hays’ dart from the left-field corner beat Max Kepler to the plate, and catcher Robinson Chirinos held on to make the tag.
Between his long hit and that throw to the plate, Hays was a pivotal piece in winning a second consecutive game. The only downside to his night was surrendering the home run chain as quickly as he did; one batter later, Mountcastle hit his second dinger of the evening, and the gold links resting around Hays neck were quickly shed to a new owner.
Around the horn
Top prospects Adley Rutschman and DL Hall received call-ups from Double-A Bowie to join Triple-A Norfolk in Nashville on Thursday. Rutschman, a catcher considered the top prospect in baseball, will be in the lineup for the Tides on Friday. The progression for Rutschman will be more rapid than Hall. The left-handed starter is still being built up after suffering a season-ending stress reaction in his elbow in 2021.
The Orioles claimed left-hander Logan Allen off waivers from the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday, filling out their 40-man roster in the process. Hyde said Allen will likely join Baltimore on Friday, but his exact role in the bullpen is unclear for the moment.