Bassitt Was Hounded By The Rangers
Chris Bassitt (0-1) made his first start for the Baltimore Orioles and it didn’t go so well. Tossing 100 pitches, Bassitt was tagged with the loss when the Texas Rangers defeated the Birds 5-2. He lasted just 4.1 innings and surrendered 4 runs on 6 hits, walked 4, struck out 3 and hit a batter. The Rangers first run was a result of Bassitt’s throwing error when that throw hit the dirt and skipped past Adley Rutschman on a fielder’s choice in the first inning.
Bassitt was tagged for 3 runs in the second inning and never really found his grove, unable to pitch a clean inning.
For a second day in a row the Baltimore offense did not produce much. The Birds were 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position.
Gunnar Henderson was the lone highlight on this night, homering to center in the first inning and knocking in Colton Cowser with a RBI single in the fifth inning. Henderson finished the night by going 2 for 4 with a homerun, 1 run scored and 2 RBI.
Rounding out the offense was Rutschman with his first inning double and singles by Taylor Ward, Pete Alonso, Cowser and Blaze Alexander.
Stymieing the Orioles was Texas starter Jack Leiter (1-0), who pitched a quality start, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits (HR) while walking 1 and striking out 8.
On paper, the Orioles’ bats are better than they have shown. It’s time for all of our big bats to produce.
2026 Record: 2-2
Next Game: Tues. 3/31 @ 6:35 pm vs. Texas Rangers