ESPN News Services1:39 AM IST2 Minute Read
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Baltimore Orioles’ top promotional contender Grayson Rodriguez batted five in five innings to end his big league debut on Wednesday with a tie against two-time NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom and the Texas Rangers.
Rodriguez calmed down after needing 30 pitches to get through the first inning as he conceded back-to-back RBI hits to Adolis Garcia and Josh Jung as Texas went 2-0 up. The right-hander eliminated 13 of the last 15 batters he faced, twice beating All-Star shortstop Corey Seager.
The Orioles called 23-year-old Rodriguez after Kyle Gibson, their scheduled series finale starter, was pushed up a day to play Tuesday in place of Tyler Wells, who had to serve in major relief on Monday.
Grayson Rodriguez hit five batters over five innings in his major league debut for the Orioles. Jerome Miron – USA TODAY Sports
Rodriguez was the Orioles’ 11th pick in the 2018 draft at Central Heights High School in Nacogdoches, Texas, about 175 miles from Globe Life Field. Several family members and friends, including some wearing Blue Devils jerseys representing the school, were at the game.
He got his first big league strikeout against Ezequiel Duran to end the second inning. He beat Seager in third and again to finish fifth in the last of his 83 places. Rodriguez threw 53 strikes and walked just one batter.
DeGrom, in free agency in his second start for Texas since a $185 million five-year contract, bowed out the first 12 batsmen he faced before the Orioles tied the score 2-2 at the top of the fifth on an RBI -Single from Adam Frazier Associated.
However, DeGrom did get his first win with Texas as Rangers prevailed 5-2.
After a 7.04 ERA in five spring training starts for the Orioles, Rodriguez started this season at Triple-A Norfolk. He allowed 14 runs (11 earned) over 10⅔ innings in his last three Grapefruit League games. In Friday’s season opener for Norfolk, he gave up three runs (two earned) over four innings against Durham.
Since making his professional debut in 2018, he has a 25-9 record and a 2.49 ERA in 70 minor league games with 421 strikeouts in 296 innings. He missed three months last season with a right lat strain.
Gibson pitched seven innings in the Orioles’ 7-2 win on Tuesday after his scheduled start was brought forward a day. Wells was supposed to start this game, but he threw five no-hit innings with relief Monday night after starter Kyle Bradish was knocked out in the second inning of the series opener with a bruised right foot after being hit by a liner.
Bradish was placed on the 15-day injured list.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.