Kyle Bradish remembered his move. The pinpoint control was evident before his first pitch.
Bradish led the Orioles onto the field tonight, turned sideways as he jumped over the first base line and pounded his fist into his glove after landing. He was starting a major league game for the first time in 438 days, and fans didn’t let the moment pass without an ovation.
The Red Sox deviated a little from their assigned parts in the feel-good story of the returning ace who made it through elbow surgery and an extensive rehab. Bradish struck out eight batters over the first four innings but also surrendered a pair of leadoff home runs.
The velocity was good. The arm was healthy. The rotation immediately got better, for this year and in 2026. Nothing else mattered as much.
Bradish completed six innings on 81 pitches and struck out 10 in the Orioles’ 5-0 loss before an announced crowd of 14,776 at Camden Yards. He allowed two runs and four hits and didn’t issue a walk.
Making a start wasn’t enough for Bradish. It had to be quality, too.
Red Sox starter Lucas Giolito retired the first eight batters and 14 of 15 before Dylan Beavers doubled to the right field fence in the fifth at 105.2 mph. The Orioles (60-72) lost for the fifth time in six games since the off-day, and they suffered their 14th shutout this season.
Giolito tossed eight scoreless innings with only four hits allowed and eight strikeouts.
Trevor Story hit his 200th career home run, pulling a first-pitch slider in the second down the left field line and into the seats for a 1-0 lead. David Hamilton lined a sinker into the first row of fans standing on the flag court in the third inning. Bradish went back to the same pitch to strike out the next two batters.
Bradish’s first pitch was a 96.8 mph fastball. He got a popup, struck out Alex Bregman with a slider and struck out Jarren Duran looking at a 97.5 mph sinker with the count full. The inning lasted 13 pitches.
Bradish started to walk off the mound before plate umpire Nic Lentz called out Duran. He did it again on Bregman’s fly ball to end the second, but also shook his head as the ball carried near the track.
Boston’s hitters did some head shaking, too, as Bradish racked up the strikeouts – six with his sinker, two with his curveball and one each with his fastball and slider. Tonight marked his fifth career start with at least 10 strikeouts.
The ninth came against Carlos Narváez to conclude the fifth inning, a sinker that froze the Red Sox’s catcher. It was the first frame without Bradish fanning multiple batters.
Keegan Akin warmed as Bradish began the sixth by allowing a single to Roman Anthony. Bregman bounced into a 6-3 double play and Duran struck out for the third time to move Bradish within one of tying his career high. Fans stood to cheer Bradish, who pumped his fist and yelled.
Alex Jackson singled for the second time leading off the sixth and Jeremiah Jackson singled with one out. Gunnar Henderson struck out for the third time, the last pitch actually missing inside and drawing a brief but stern objection, and Colton Cowser grounded out.
Giolito retired the side in order on four pitches in the seventh. He had regained control.
Jackson Holliday drew a four-pitch walk with two outs in the eighth and Jackson struck out on 11 pitches.
Yaramil Hiraldo allowed a run in the eighth on Ceddanne Rafaela’s double, a sacrifice bunt and fielder’s choice roller in front of the mound. Yennier Cano inherited two runners in the ninth and they scored on a wild pitch and Hamilton’s fly ball to left that Beavers misplayed but didn’t touch, creating a gift double and moans from the same crowd that cheered earlier.
* Right-hander Levi Wells moved up from Double-A Chesapeake to Triple-A Norfolk after posting a 3.12 ERA in 20 games with the Baysox. He surrendered only four home runs in 75 innings.
Trey Gibson started for the Tides and allowed six runs and 10 hits in three innings. Albert Suárez tossed a scoreless inning. TT Bowens hit his 14th home run.
Reed Trimble hit his eighth home run for Chesapeake. Blake Money allowed two runs and struck out eight in five innings.
High-A Aberdeen's Wellington Aracena tossed four scoreless innings with one hit, four walks and six strikeouts.
Class A Delmarva’s Twine Palmer allowed two runs and two hits and struck out eight over 4 2/3 innings.