BALTIMORE -- As Brandon Hyde walked up to take the ball from Cade Povich on Tuesday night, the Orioles’ manager first asked the left-hander a question as he approached the mound.

There was one out in the eighth inning, and Hyde wanted to know the last time Povich had pitched that deep into a start.

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“I think I was a little caught off, I didn’t really know what to say,” Povich recalled later. “But he said, ‘Probably since college?’ And I honestly don’t even know if it was since college.”

The 24-year-old had never pitched into the eighth during his pro career -- never while pitching in the Minor League ranks for the Twins (2021-22) or O’s (‘22-24), and also never in his 11 previous MLB outings earlier this year.

It also never happened when Povich pitched at the University of Nebraska, where he made 19 starts across the 2020 and ‘21 seasons.

It actually hadn’t happened since Povich recorded a nine-inning outing in his final start for South Mountain Community College on May 3, 2019, vs. Yavapai College.

Until Tuesday.

Povich turned in a terrific performance on a career night for the Baltimore rookie in his 12th MLB start. The southpaw set new big league bests for innings pitched (7 1/3) and strikeouts (10) while dazzling during the Orioles’ 9-0 victory over the White Sox at Camden Yards.

During Povich’s 98-pitch gem, he retired 21 of the 27 Chicago batters he faced while scattering five hits. He didn’t issue any walks, and his 10 strikeouts were the most by an Orioles rookie since Kyle Bradish also had 10 vs. the Astros on Sept. 22, 2022.

“That was great. He was throwing all his pitches for strikes. He wasn’t walking guys. He was competing,” first baseman Ryan O’Hearn said of Povich. “He was awesome.”

To be exact, Povich threw 70 of his 98 pitches for strikes, a career-best strike percentage of 71.4. That included 25 called strikes and 11 whiffs -- five by four-seam fastball, four by changeup and two by curveball.

Povich (24 years and 144 days old) became the youngest Orioles pitcher to throw 7 1/3 (or more) scoreless innings with 10-plus strikeouts since May 9, 2005, when Daniel Cabrera (23, 346) K’d 11 over 8 scoreless vs. the Twins. Povich also became the second-youngest Oriole with 10 K’s and 0 walks since Aug. 3, 1978, when Dennis Martinez (24, 81) also had 10 and zero in a 10-inning start vs. the Brewers.

“Really good command of the changeup. A lot of fastballs for strikes. Dumped some nice curveballs in there also,” Hyde said. “But pretty much the best command we've seen him have since he's been with us this year. Totally in control, and great to see him work ahead of the hitters the way he did. We got a lead for him, and he filled up the strike zone. So, awesome to see him go into the eighth inning there."

The Orioles’ early offense allowed Povich to stay aggressive, which has been a focal point for the 6-foot-3, 185-pound southpaw since he introduced his alter-ego, “Slim,” last month.

Baltimore (81-59), which has won three in a row for the first time in the second half and has moved a half-game into first place in the AL East over the Yankees (80-59) after New York lost to Texas on a walk-off grand slam, tagged Chicago starter Nick Nastrini for seven runs (four earned) in 1 2/3 innings. After that, Povich was freed up to remain in attack mode.

“I think direction was just better -- finishing more to home plate rather than off to the side, something [pitching coach Drew French] and I have worked on and talked about,” Povich said. “Just being confident, obviously, but the lead helped out a little bit, just being able to relax. Really just staying grounded with everything we’ve been working on.”

There have been ups and downs for Povich, who has a 5.76 ERA in the Majors this season and was coming off back-to-back challenging starts against the Astros and Dodgers. But the O’s are hoping to get contributions from him down the stretch, especially with their rotation continually being banged up. (Dean Kremer is now dealing with a right forearm contusion, to go along with Grayson Rodriguez, who is on the injured list with a right lat/teres strain.)

Perhaps this won’t be the last time this September that “Slim” exits the field to a standing ovation, as his confidence continues to grow.

“I think it’s really good, obviously,” Povich said. “Stuff we’ve worked on has kind of been working, but then to kind of see everything come together and execute as one, it was really good.”