Rutschman collects 3 knocks, triple shy

After a slow start to June, Adley Rutschman looked like more like the player who ended May on a scorching 7-for-11 run on Saturday.

MLB Pipeline's second-ranked overall prospect collected three hits -- falling a triple shy of the cycle -- to pace Double-A Bowie's offense, but it was not enough as the Baysox fell to the Hartford Yard Goats, 8-7, in 10 innings at Dunkin' Donuts Park.

Saturday marked the fourth career three-hit game for Rutschman and third of the season. The effort also snapped a 2-for-16 slide over four June games for the backstop.

"That's just baseball. There's ups and downs, you get pitched tough, but you make the most of it and work on improving every day," Rutschman said. "Tonight I got into some good counts, located some pitches to hit and got some good swings off. It was a tough loss, but we'll be back out there tomorrow."

The top Orioles prospect found a hole through the right side of the infield in the fourth inning to reach on a base hit. Four batters later, Rutschman scampered home on a two-run single from Cadyn Grenier.

In the eighth, the 2019 No. 1 overall Draft pick clobbered a game-tying homer to left-center after falling behind 1-2 in the count. It was the seventh roundtripper of the season for the Oregon State product.

"I'm always just trying to see pitches and get good swings off on pitches in the zone and pitches up that I can drive," Rustchman said. "That’s just the biggest thing for me. I'm OK with taking borderline pitches for strikes early in the count and forcing myself to battle late until I get a good pitch to hit."

The game remained tied at four apiece as it headed into extras. In the 10th, with a run already in for the Baysox, Rutschman got the green light to swing at a 3-0 offering and laced it to left for a double. After a single by J.C. Escarra moved Rutschman to third, he was quickly plated on an RBI knock by Johnny Rizer.

"That situation, 3-0, is really just a comfortability thing," Rutschman said. "I had the green light, but it's just one of those things that if you're not fully committed, I'm not gonna swing. So, I was feeling confident there and got a fastball to hit, and I just missed it a little bit but still got it into space for a double."

Despite posting a three-spot in the frame, Bowie could not withstand a late rally by Hartford in the bottom of the inning.

Rutschman is now sporting a .281 average and .977 OPS with seven homers, four doubles, 24 runs scored and 21 RBIs over 27 games this season.