Overview
- Rutschman drilled a fifth-inning grand slam Thursday after Houston center fielder Brice Matthews crashed into the wall and lost the ball, which dropped into Baltimore’s bullpen for a 5–0 lead.
- Baltimore took the opener 10–3 as Jeremiah Jackson added a seventh-inning grand slam, the club’s first game with multiple slams since 2015.
- Starter Chris Bassitt worked 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball with seven strikeouts, giving the Orioles steady control of the game.
- Since his April 21 activation from an ankle IL stint, Rutschman has hit .440 with four homers and 14 RBIs in six games, underscoring his immediate impact.
- Baltimore later split the doubleheader, and rookie Samuel Basallo remains part of the catching picture after covering during Rutschman’s absence.