09/03/26 10:11:00
Printable Page
09/03 22:10 CDT Adley Rutschman returns to Camden Yards --- and homers twice
for the Red Sox
Adley Rutschman returns to Camden Yards --- and homers twice for the Red Sox
By NOAH TRISTER
AP Baseball Writer
BALTIMORE (AP) --- Adley Rutschman had only positive things to say about his
former teammates.
Then he delivered a blow to their postseason hopes.
Rutschman homered twice in his return to Camden Yards, hitting solo shots in
the first and sixth innings for the Boston Red Sox in a 6-5 win over Baltimore
on Thursday night. The loss left the Orioles 1 1/2 games out of the final
wild-card spot in the American League.
"That's a heck of a way to make a return," Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy
said. "That was awesome."
Rutschman received a standing ovation from the crowd --- and from the Baltimore
dugout --- when he came to the plate with two outs in the first. Then he
slugged a 1-1 pitch from Brandon Young over the wall in right field. It was the
All-Star catcher's 10th homer of the season and second since being traded from
the Orioles to the Red Sox in early August. He added another homer in the sixth
to cut Baltimore's lead to 3-2.
Rutschman also received a video tribute between the first and second innings,
and he got another big ovation despite having already done some damage
offensively for his new team.
"All of it was special, a true testament to them as an organization," Rutschman
said after the game. "They do it right."
Rutschman hit two homers for the Orioles against Boston on April 24. He's the
first major league player to have a multihomer game on both sides of the same
matchup in the same season, according to OptaSTATS.
Rutschman has battled elbow issues of late, but he was back in the lineup after
missing the previous three games. He's only batting .193 since the trade, but
perhaps this is the start of a more productive stretch run.
Baltimore drafted Rutschman No. 1 overall in 2019. His arrival in the major
leagues in 2022 was part of a significant turnaround in which the Orioles
ultimately won the AL East in 2023 and made the playoffs in 2024.
However, the last two years have been a good deal less successful. Although
Rutschman made the All-Star team for the third time this year, the Orioles
traded him to Boston just before the deadline.
"A lot of memories, a lot of positive experiences. The people in Baltimore have
always treated me with an unbelievable amount of respect and love, and I've
always felt that when I've been here," Rutschman said before the game. "So just
a huge thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Rutschman is now in better position to make the playoffs. Boston is almost
certain to qualify, currently holding the second wild card. The Orioles could
still sneak in, but right now they are in last place in the AL East.
So there was a decent amount at stake once the pregame reunions were over.
"He couldn't help himself. He stopped into the clubhouse quickly," Orioles
manager Craig Albernaz said before the game. "A lot of hugs, a lot of crap talk
going back and forth. It was good to see him."
___
See AP's full MLB coverage here
|
