Zach Eflin shines, Orioles hold off late White Sox rally

MLB: Baltimore Orioles at Arizona DiamondbacksApr 7, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Zach Eflin in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Zach Eflin pitched seven shutout innings and the Baltimore Orioles pieced together a sixth-inning scoring rally to defeat the visiting Chicago White Sox 2-1 on Friday.

Gunnar Henderson and Ryan Mountcastle both had two hits for the Orioles in the opener of a three-game series between teams with the two worst records in the American League.

Eflin (4-2) allowed four hits and a walk, while striking out six. Bryan Baker pitched a scoreless eighth and Felix Bautista survived the ninth for his ninth save. Bautista allowed a run, and the White Sox had two runners on base when Joshua Palacios struck out to end the game.

Sean Burke (3-6) took the loss, allowing two runs in six innings on five hits, one walk and six strikeouts.

Until Mike Tauchman’s one-out double in the ninth, all of Chicago’s hits were singles — and Lenyn Sosa had two of them. The White Sox had trouble on the base paths as Baltimore catcher Adley Rutschman threw out Edgar Quero on a stolen base attempt and also was credited with a pick-off of Quero.

Andrew Benintendi doubled in Tauchman with two outs in the ninth for Chicago’s run.

The Orioles, who’ve won four of their last six games, got going in the sixth when Rutschman singled and Gunnar Henderson doubled to put runners in scoring position with no outs. Mountcastle reached on an infield single without the runners advancing, and then Rutschman was thrown out at the plate on Ryan O’Hearn’s fielder’s choice grounder.

Ramon Urias provided a sacrifice fly for the game’s first run. The second run came on a double steal, with Mountcastle scoring from third base. It was Baltimore’s first steal of home since August 2021.

The White Sox went with Jared Shuster in the so-called opener role, working the first inning from the mound before Burke took over.

Burke made through four innings unscathed until the Orioles got the two runs in the sixth.

The game was moved up more than 2 1/2 hours to a late-afternoon start because of weather-related concerns in the evening.

–Field Level Media

Related Posts

Josh Smith drives in four to spark Rangers past Cards

Jun 1, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers first baseman Josh Smith (8) hits a two run double during the second inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Globe Life…

Read more

Brewers’ Christian Yelich (hand) leaves after HBP

Jun 1, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich (22) reacts after being hit boy a pitch during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank…

Read more

Indiana Pacers Aren’t Sexy, but They Might Be the Thunder’s Worst Nightmare

As the Indiana Pacers party like it’s 2000 and brace for their first NBA Finals since the world eluded the Y2K bug, their pickup line stands in the corner—quiet but…

Read more

Inside the 2025 World Series of Poker: How Social Media Is Changing the Game

From its humble origins in a smoky Las Vegas casino in the 1970s, the World Series of Poker has become one of gambling’s biggest attractions. The opportunity to compete for…

Read more

Best MLB Bets for Sunday, June 1: Top Picks and Predictions

May 30, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle (6) scores during the sixth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory…

Read more

Jays win fourth staight, keep A’s reeling

May 31, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer (4) celebrates hitting a home run against the Athletics during the fifthinning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit:…

Read more

Leave a Reply