A familiar formula carried into a new spring for the Baltimore Orioles: timely power and overpowering pitching.
Pete Alonso hit a two-run homer and six pitchers combined on a three-hit shutout as Baltimore opened Grapefruit League play with a 2-0 victory over the New York Yankees on Friday at Ed Smith Stadium.
Alonso, who finished 1 for 3, provided the game’s only scoring with one swing. His two-run shot accounted for both of Baltimore’s runs, as the Orioles totaled eight hits but left six runners on base.
Gunnar Henderson went 1 for 2, and Adley Rutschman added a hit in three at-bats as the Orioles collected eight hits and committed no errors.
Baltimore’s pitching staff set the tone early and never relented. Trevor Rogers started and worked two scoreless innings, allowing one hit while striking out three. Keegan Akin and Rico GarcÃa followed with a scoreless inning apiece, and Grant Wolfram added another clean frame.
Jose Espada (1-0) earned the win, tossing one shutout inning. He allowed no hits, walked none, and struck out two as the Orioles struck out 13 Yankees overall.
The Yankees managed just three hits, stranded five runners, and failed to advance a runner home.
Elmer RodrÃguez started for New York and threw three scoreless innings, allowing three hits. Jake Bird and Kervin Castro also worked scoreless frames before Bradley Hanner surrendered two runs in one inning of relief.
Both teams continue Grapefruit League action this weekend as they build toward Opening Day.
