CLEARWATER, Fla. – The first home run for Samuel Basallo is another box that he can check in camp. One prospect flexing for another. Going on a power trip after leaving Sarasota for the day.

Pete Alonso singled for the second time this afternoon in the third inning and Basallo followed with a two-run shot to right field off Andrew Painter at 105.7 mph.

Basallo collected his seventh hit in 23 at-bats to raise his average to .304 with a .929 OPS in 10 games. And we found out later that he wasn’t done.

Facing left-hander Tucker Davidson in the seventh, Basallo ripped a three-run double to center field at 108.7 mph. The double, homer and five RBIs left Basallo with a .320/.414/.560 line.

He’s only 21.

The earlier matchup pitted the Orioles’ top prospect against a pitcher ranked No. 2 in the Phillies’ system. Painter tried to go down and in with a 95.5 mph fastball and Basallo drove it 375 feet, clearing a line of fans standing against a railing high above the fence.

Bryan Ramos followed Basallo’s homer with a double at 108.2 mph that chased Painter from the game. Leody Taveras singled off Brandon Beckel, also at 108.2 mph, for a 3-3 tie.

Did Basallo prefer the homer or left-on-left, bases-clearing double?

“I think I enjoy each hit. It doesn’t matter who’s out there,” he said through interpreter Brandon Quinones.

“I’m feeling really good right now. I feel like all the work I put in in the offseason, we’re seeing it pay off right now. And yeah, I’m just feeling really good out there right now, feeling really proud with my work.”

Basallo will be the backup catcher and occasional designated hitter to keep his bat in the lineup, especially against right-handers. A diving tag at home plate on Feb. 26 threw a brief scare into the club, with Basallo in obvious pain and forced to leave with discomfort in his right side, but he was back in the lineup a couple days later.

The confidence that’s building from his debut in 2025 and in camp this spring is expected to carry over to the regular season. The Orioles obviously believe in him with their eight-year, $67 million extension on Aug. 22, less than a week into his major league career.

“Last year when I came up, I came up in August and that time of year your body starts to feel it a little bit,” he said. “And obviously it’s a new level, as well, so it was challenging. But I feel like coming into this season I feel a lot more comfortable, a lot more patient this time around, so I feel a lot better going into the season. I feel like I’m in a better position going into it than I was last year when I debuted.”

*Left-hander Cade Povich came out of today’s game after throwing 45 pitches and walking four batters in 1 2/3 innings. He returned in the third inning under relaxed spring training rules and added another walk and strikeout to his ledger.

Povich was charged with three runs before Dylan Heid replaced him in the second inning, including Alec Bohm’s two-run shot in the first. Povich walked the bases loaded with one out in the second and Trea Turner grounded into a force to give the Phillies a 3-0 lead.

The homer was the only hit off Povich today.

Adolis García drew a one-out walk-off from Povich in a scoreless third. Povich walked five and struck out four. His spring ERA is 4.32 in 8 1/3 innings.

Left-hander Grant Wolfram had another scoreless outing today, retiring the side in order in the fourth with one strikeout. He hasn’t allowed a run in six innings, including one against Team Netherlands. He’s permitted two hits, walked one and struck out 10.

Tyler Wells hadn’t allowed a run this spring in six innings. He walked Trea Turner to begin the fifth and Bohm homered again with one out to give Philadelphia a 5-3 lead.

Wells came out after throwing 22 pitches in two-thirds of an inning. He allowed three hits and was charged with four runs after minor leaguer Joe Glassey replaced him and let two inherited score.

Yennier Cano was drilled on the left shin by a 111.1 comebacker from García in the sixth inning. He slipped and was laughing as a crowd formed on the mound to check on him, and he stayed in the game after a few warmup tosses. He allowed a run and two hits.

Christian Cairo, son of Orioles’ infield coach Miguel Cairo, singled to right field off Cano.

Jackson Kowar was charged with two unearned runs and two hits in the seventh. Shortstop Wehiwa Aloy committed an error.

*Jeremiah Jackson returned to the lineup for the first time since March 5, resuming his bid for a utility job. Jackson was bothered by a mild calf strain.

“Just tried to be smart,” he said. “Don’t want to push anything right now. Just got with the training staff, did what we needed to do, feel a lot better and ready to go.”

Jackson went 0-for-3 and made another start at second base.

“I feel really comfortable at second,” he said. “I would say second’s probably one of my more comfortable positions on the diamond. But it’s really just a reps thing. Just trying to be better at my first step, which is kind of everywhere – infield, outfield. As far as second goes, just going out there and continuing to get live reps and then just continue to work hard and be ready and be available.”

*Reliever Andrew Kittredge is making progress in his recovery from a right shoulder injury.

“He’s trending,” said manager Craig Albernaz. “The catch play has been encouraging, so he’s on the right track.”

Kittredge is hoping to get into some games before the Orioles break camp.

“Everything’s a possibility,” Albernaz said. “It all depends on how he’s progressing, just like we always talk about. Each pitcher’s on their own progression. Same thing with Kitt. And we’ll allow medical with himself to kind of dictate the next steps. We’re just kind of taking it one day at a time.”

*Jackson Holliday is taking grounders, throwing and in a hitting progression while recovering from surgery to remove a broken right hamate bone. Jordan Westburg is fielding ground balls and running after receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right elbow. “They’re both on the right track of where you need to get to,” Albernaz said. “We just want to make sure that, we’ll listen to them, listen to medical and make sure we’re doing right by them.”

Update: Willy Vasquez homered in the ninth off Tim Mayza in an 11-8 loss.

Albernaz on Basallo: “Great at-bats by Basallo. He’s such a great hitter in the box. I love the way he manages at-bats against lefties. That’s what’s really stood out this camp, just how comfortable he is. Even the at-bat, he struck out off José Alvarado. Alvarado’s a really good left-handed reliever, 99 sinker, but the swings he was taking, he stayed right in on it. The at-bats were really impressive for Sam.”

Albernaz on Basallo’s defense: “He’s looked great. We’re throwing a lot at him, just like any catcher, especially a young catcher, and fine-tuning some techniques, throwing more on his plate with pitch calling and game planning and stuff. He’s answered the bell. He’s looked really good.”

Albernaz on Povich: “Just lack of strikes. We had a bunch of three-ball counts. But to his credit, just the one home run from Alec Bohm, but other than that he did a good job of controlling the damage. The strike quality for him wasn’t what we’re used to.”

Albernaz on Cano toughness: “Yeah, yeah. I expected to go out there and go like, ‘Come on, Cano, let’s get off the field,’ but he just brushed it off like nothing happened. He has a little bit of a contusion. He looked good considering 111 off the shin.”

Albernaz on Wolfram: “Kind of getting redundant right now with Wolfie coming in and doing what he’s doing. I love the strikes, the fastball velo was there, the off-speed, the slider was really today. And he was efficient with his outing, which we like. We like strikes.”

Jackson on playing multiple infield positions: “I feel good. I think taking on the role of utility’s been a good opportunity for me. Second base has been good, Cairo’s been awesome. It’s been easy to go out there and work and get better. For me it’s just more so about being available and playing wherever they need me to.”