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Trevor Rogers sprinted from the dugout to the mound tonight after Jackson Holliday made the last out in the bottom of the fifth inning. Yankees players hadn’t started to come off the field and Rogers wanted to begin warming. He might have set a land speed record.
Rogers exudes confidence, always in control, always giving the Orioles a chance, whether he’s working in a five- or six-man rotation.
Ryan Mountcastle moved down from leadoff to cleanup tonight and gave them an early lead with the loudest home run of his career, and he expanded it with a sacrifice fly.
Reduced to playing the role of spoiler, the Orioles slowed the Yankees’ pursuit of first place in the division with a 4-2 victory before an announced crowd of 26,269 at Camden Yards.
Rogers tossed five no-hit innings before Austin Wells led off the sixth with a groundball single. Dylan Beavers made two outstanding catches on consecutive plays to ensure that Rogers would keep the Yankees scoreless under his watch, and the Orioles improved to 73-81 while preserving their slim hopes of a .500 season. They’ve got to run the table.
Dietrich Enns surrendered a two-run homer to Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the seventh that reduced the lead to 3-2, but Gunnar Henderson doubled off Tim Hill in the bottom half of the inning to plate Jordan Westburg.
Rico Garcia stranded two runners in the eighth inning and Keegan Akin notched his eighth save.
The six shutout innings lowered Rogers’ ERA to 1.35 in 17 starts. Wells had the only hit. Rogers walked two batters, struck out seven and received a standing ovation after his season-high 106th pitch, one fewer than his career best.
"Unbelievable," said interim manager Tony Mansolino. "I mean, I think the only mistake he probably made tonight was the 3-2 change-up to, I think, Wells right there, two outs in the third inning, and probably cost him some stress and probably 10 pitches or so. But outside of that, he was really, really good. That team right there that's playing, that lineup, they've been one of the best teams in baseball here recently. They've been playing really good. To kind of handle them the way he did, I think it just validates every bit of his year.
"I probably told you a few starts ago, 'You're waiting for the other shoe to drop, the other foot to drop.' I don't think we're waiting anymore. I think this is kind of what he is and what he used to be, and I think he got his body healthy. I think it's been reported that he fixed the issues that he had, and he's kind of just turned back the clock to what he was, part of the issues. He's just been really, really good."
Wells twice had to hustle back to first base in the sixth because Beavers committed robbery in left field. The rookie made a leaping catch at the fence on Paul Goldschmidt’s fly ball and raced in to snag Aaron Judge’s sinking liner. Rogers shook his head in disbelief after the second grab.
"Shoot, I owe him something, that’s for sure," Rogers said. "Those plays were unbelievable. The work that he’s put in since he’s come up, really, really happy for the guy. He’s swinging it well, playing really solid defense, great teammate. I’m really happy for him. His career is going to be good. He’s got a bright future.”
"Those are game-saving plays," Mansolino said. "I always, in my mind, circle the game-changing moments in a game, and those two plays are game-changing moments.
"We're asking Beav to learn a new position in the big leagues. He did play left field in the minor leagues, but played mostly right field. So he's made some nice plays out there. He made a couple mistakes in San Diego. What I loved about those mistakes in San Diego is he laughed about it. It didn't bother him, and has continued to work his butt off out there every single day. I go out there and I watch, and he's flying all over the place in BP, and it paid off for him and for our team tonight."
Mountcastle led off the second inning against Will Warren with a 422-foot shot to left field, and the 114.3 mph exit velocity was unmatched among his 97 homers. He’s hit only six this season in 84 games.
A four-seam fastball was scalded. Mountcastle lined it over the Bird Bath sign and into the seats, a nice reminder of the power he’s packing.
“It was nice," he said. "Got a fastball over the middle there and got the barrel to it. Had a couple good at-bats today, so yeah, pleased with how today went.”
The Orioles failed to build on their second-inning lead, wasting Samuel Basallo’s two-out single and Colton Cowser’s double. A 1-0 score held until Jordan Westburg reached on Warren’s fielding error leading off the sixth, Gunnar Henderson reached on an infield single for his 500th career hit, the runners moved up on Chisholm’s error on the play, and Mountcastle lined to right field at 104.4 mph.
Rogers has allowed two earned runs or fewer in 15 consecutive starts, the longest streak in Orioles history and longest in the majors since the Dodgers’ Julio Urías (17) from July 16, 2022-April 10, 2023. He owns the lowest ERA in club history over the first 17 starts, staying ahead of Jim Palmer (1.56) and Milt Pappas (1.74).
His WHIP is down to 0.87 and opponents’ average to .178. His stock keeps rising.
“He’s been great," Mountcastle said. "Great teammate, great guy, too. He’s been pitching really good. It’s a lot of fun to watch.”
Just another day at the ballpark's office.
"It kind of seems that way at times, but I’m just happy that I can continue to stay consistent with the amount of games that we have left and just trying to play spoiler at this point," Rogers said. "That was a great win for us coming back from last night and just super happy for these guys. I got one more and just try to finish strong."
The historical significance of Rogers' season can be dissected in the fall and winter. Not yet. He won't allow it.
"It’s hard," he said. "I’m hearing the buzz around it, but I’m really just trying to keep my bubble really small.
"I’m just very fortunate to be amongst those guys and haven’t really sat down and really thought about it much. My wife probably has the whole list and we agreed that once the season’s over, she’s going to tell me everything. But until then, just staying focused during my process day to day and just try to go out there and compete."
Rogers struck out five of the first seven batters, finishing hitters with his fastball, sinker and changeup. Anthony Volpe launched a slider 401 feet to the center field track, where Cowser ran it down.
Wells was the first baserunner with a two-out walk in the third inning, and Rogers hit Goldschmidt with an 0-2 sweeper. Judge struck out looking for the second time, taking a sinker on the inner half of the plate.
Giancarlo Stanton walked with one out in the fourth and Amed Rosario grounded into a double play. Rogers retired the side in order in the fifth, with Cowser racing into right-center and reaching down to catch Volpe’s fly ball.
A grounder by Wells at 107.8 mph broke up the no-hit bid. Rogers waved to fans after the inning and teammates swarmed him in the dugout.
They can expect it or be amazed by it.
“I guess a little bit of both," Mountcastle said with a chuckle. "He’s been unbelievable. Just feels like every time he steps out there, it’s six, seven, one run, no runs. It’s unbelievable.”
Rogers was at his lowest point a year ago, and not just because he was further south in Triple-A Norfolk.
“It's full circle," he said. "I actually just saw a memory on my phone of my wife and I hanging out in an Airbnb in Norfolk this time last year. Just the amount of work that I’ve put in, the pitching department, the strength department that’s helped me so much. Just thankful the Orioles have helped me turn my career around.
"I can go on and on about how much they’ve helped me and what this organization means to me. But at the end of the day, I’m just happy that I can be consistent and continue to help this team win games and finish strong and look forward to a good 2026.”
* Gary Sánchez singled and homered tonight at Norfolk. He was the designated hitter.
Adley Rutschman singled and walked.
Levi Wells tossed six scoreless innings with one hit, four walks and three strikeouts.
