In battle of heavyweight bats, O's edge Yanks in pitchers' duel

BALTIMORE -- Two of MLB’s most prolific offenses went head-to-head for the first time this year on Monday night -- the homer-happy Orioles and the red-hot Yankees.

So, of course, only two runs were scored during the series opener at Camden Yards.

Gunnar Henderson swatted his MLB-high-tying 10th home run of the season to lead off the bottom of the first inning, then Baltimore’s pitching staff cooled off New York in a 2-0 win. Grayson Rodriguez (5 2/3 frames) and three O’s relievers combined to power the club’s third shutout victory of 2024, all coming in its past eight games.

It might only be late April, but the stakes feel high whenever the Yankees (19-11) and Orioles (18-10) -- now tied atop the American League East -- meet these days. This marked the first time they faced off as the top two teams in the division at least 25 days into a season since July 21, 2015.

“Any time you can face a lineup like that, especially in the division, you know you're going to be in for a dogfight,” Rodriguez said, “and that's what that was.”

If Monday is also a sign of what’s to come, there could be plenty of thrilling clashes this year as the rivals battle for the AL East crown.

Henderson’s leadoff homer off Yankees right-hander Clarke Schmidt pulled him even with the Angels’ Mike Trout atop MLB’s home run leaderboard. The defending AL Rookie of the Year also became only the third player in O’s history (since 1954) to hit 10-plus homers before May 1, joining Brady Anderson (11 in ‘96) and Frank Robinson (10 in ‘69).

Baltimore has 45 home runs this season, its most through 28 games in franchise history. Three of those long balls have been leadoff blasts by Henderson, who is the only O’s player to bat in the No. 1 spot this year.

“It’s always a big boost. You’re not really expecting a leadoff homer to start the game, but our guy’s definitely got the ability to,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “He’s 22 years old, too. It’s pretty scary how good this guy’s going to be -- how good he is already.”

Henderson (22 years, 305 days) is the youngest player in AL/NL history with 10 home runs before May. If he had been told prior to the season that he’d have this many homers this quickly, would he have been surprised?

“I mean, I'd like to say I know I can do it, but yeah, it'd definitely be a little surprising,” Henderson said. “Definitely feeling good, a little bit.”

Rodriguez and the Orioles’ shorthanded bullpen made the early lead stand. Rodriguez has never allowed a run against the Yankees, as he threw 6 1/3 scoreless innings in his first career start against them on July 28, 2023. He and Tony Arnold (1986-87) are the only pitchers in team history with a 0.00 ERA over their first 12 career innings vs. New York.

The Yanks -- who scored 30 runs over their previous two games -- had a baserunner against Rodriguez in every inning, but the 24-year-old sophomore right-hander continually worked out of jams. He stranded runners on the corners in the third, striking out Aaron Judge and getting Anthony Rizzo to hit into an inning-ending groundout.

“Obviously, a lot of stacked lineups in this division. That’s one of the best in the league,” said Rodriguez, who allowed five hits and three walks while striking out three. “Any time you keep them off the board, it’s a good night.”

Cionel Pérez (one inning) and Yennier Cano (1 1/3) kept the shutout intact before Danny Coulombe recorded the final three outs for his third career save (and first this season). The 34-year-old left-hander pitched in place of closer Craig Kimbrel, who is day to day with upper back tightness.

Hyde’s bullpen usage was reminiscent of late in the 2023 season, when the O’s were without All-Star closer Félix Bautista (who is also out for all of ‘24 following Tommy John surgery).

“It felt exactly like that. But everybody’s up for it,” Coulombe said. “Any time you get to pitch in a leverage situation, that’s why you play this game. When Kimbrel’s down, it’s going to be a team effort.”

It was an encouraging start for the Orioles -- who are 4-0 in divisional games this year -- in their season series vs. the Yankees. But they still have 12 meetings to go, including three more this week.

Regardless, every win against an AL East team counts the same and could eventually play a factor in a standings tiebreaker for the postseason.

“We have to all remind ourselves that it is late April/early May. But when you’re playing against a divisional opponent, it means a little bit more,” Hyde said. “Even though it’s still early in the year, you love to play well against them.”