Baltimore Orioles: Gabriel Ynoa Clean Against Boston Red Sox

On Friday afternoon, the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Boston Red Sox in Grapefruit League action.

Before the Baltimore Orioles took the field for their first spring training game, I discussed the potential role for right-handed pitcher Gabriel Ynoa. Odds are low that he makes the 25-man roster out of camp, even with a dominant spring, but the 25-year old has the stuff to be a major league contributor.

He showcased that ability on Friday afternoon, tossing four clean innings against the Boston Red Sox, helping the Baltimore Orioles to a 4-2 win over their American League East foe.

Andrew Cashner took the ball to start the contest and retired the first five hitters he faced, but couldn’t finish his outing and make it out of the second inning. After issuing back-to-back two out walks, Cashner allowed a ground-rule double to give the Red Sox an early 1-0 and end his afternoon.

These may be practice games, but Cashner has been hit hard and often in his two very brief outings and hasn’t been able to hit his spots. How much hope can we hold out that his reunion with pitching coach Doug Brocail will be a benefit in the regular season?

Gabriel Ynoa continues to be solid for the Baltimore Orioles.

Through his first two appearances for the O’s, Ynoa worked four innings of one-run ball, giving up just three hits, including a solo home run which accounted for his only earned run. He also posted five strikeouts and zero walks.

His line today: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K.

The slider, his best pitch, was working well and generating swings and misses, his fastball generated a lot of weak contact, and even his changeup (which was shelled in his brief major league stint in 2017) was working for him. Ynoa’s performance was easily one of the best pitching performances we have seen this spring from a Baltimore Orioles pitcher.

Chance Sisco, Anthony Santander, Hanser Alberto, and Renato Nunez all chipped in runs to propel the Orioles to victory. Nunez did so in impressive fashion, launching a no-doubter deep over the left field wall.

Elsewhere around the bases:

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• Nate Karns pitched one inning of relief. The veteran hit 93 mph a few times on the MASN broadcast radar gun. He walked one and struck out one in his scoreless frame. There is now talk about him possibly beginning the season on the Injured List if Brandon Hyde can’t stretch him out and get him his innings. Prepare for a lot of roster movement, per usual.
• Cedric Mullins went 0-1 with a walk, sacrifice bunt, and a stolen base. Whether he is a major league starter or a fourth outfielder, he’s exciting to watch and will be one the few bright spots this season.
• Chance Sisco upped his average to .429 after going 1-2 with a walk. Will his defense get better in the minors? I rather see him with significant innings at the major league level, working with this young staff, and learning under Brandon Hyde, a former catcher.
• Utility man Drew Jackson recorded a three-hit day with a stolen base. The Rule 5 pick is now hitting .417.

The Orioles will split up and play two games tomorrow. They will take on the Tampa Bay Rays at 1:05 pm. Dylan Bundy is slated to start. That game can be seen on Fox Sports Sun and MLB TV, with audio on MLB.com. At 6:05 pm the O’s will battle the New York Yankees from Ed Smith Stadium. That game will be televised on MASN. David Hess will climb the bump to kick things off.