Bradish Fans 12, Baltimore Homers Fly in 5-3 Win
Kyle Bradish was nearly untouchable, going 7.2 innings and striking out 12 while allowing just one earned run to lead Baltimore past Seattle 5-3. Four different players went deep in a game that looked more like a home run derby than a pitchers' duel — except Bradish didn't get that memo.
The story of the night was Bradish's dominance. Twelve strikeouts across 7.2 innings, surrendering only five hits and one earned run — that's a performance that looks like an ace operating at full command. George Kirby took the opposite path for Seattle: six innings, eight hits, three earned runs, and zero walks. Kirby's control was fine; his ability to suppress damage was not. When you give up eight hits in six innings, the scoreboard tends to reflect it.
The long ball was everywhere. Gunnar Henderson went 1-for-4 but made it count — a home run and two RBI. Jackson Holliday added another solo shot, going 1-for-3 with two runs scored. Blaze Alexander didn't homer but was the quietest standout of the night, going a perfect 3-for-3 with a run scored — the kind of line that gets buried under the home run noise but shouldn't be. Leody Taveras chipped in an RBI as well. Seattle got their own power display: Dominic Canzone went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI, and Cole Young added a solo shot of his own going 1-for-4. The Mariners had the firepower; they just didn't have enough of it.
There's added context worth noting: Henderson came into this game fresh off being hit by a pitch in Baltimore's last series against San Diego — a situation serious enough that a Padres pitcher received a three-game suspension for it. That he responded with a home run and two RBI here appears to be a statement, even if the circumstances are coincidental. On the Seattle side, the return of catcher Cal Raleigh to the lineup after missing time with a right oblique strain was a storyline heading into this game, though the box score tells us the offense still came up short. Baltimore's bullpen also got a boost recently with the reinstatement of closer Ryan Helsley from the injured list, which looks like it could matter as this series continues. For now, the Orioles took the opener, and Bradish gave them every reason to feel good about it.