MIAMI -- Brandon Young delivered his first quality start of the season in the Orioles’ 7-4 win Wednesday night at loanDepot park.
“He's done a great job of staying composed. And, you know, I expect for him to come out and be the same person [he] is, and that's being efficient with his pitches. You know, really getting the fastball in the strike zone, getting the split going, to make sure his off-speed offerings are in the strike zone. And to me, that's where [he] is at his best,” manager Craig Albernaz said pregame.
Making his fourth start of the year, the right-hander threw 93 pitches and leaned heavily on his four-seam fastball, which accounted for more than half of his pitch mix.
The only damage against Young came in the first inning, when he allowed a two-run double to Jakob Marsee and an RBI single to Owen Caissie.
After the rocky opening frame, Young settled down and attacked the strike zone with improved command, generating weak contact through the middle innings. The 27-year-old retired 16 of the final 18 batters he faced, finishing the night allowing four hits while striking out five across 5 1/3 innings, bringing his ERA to 4.35.
It was the first time Young faced the Miami lineup after giving up nine hits in 4 1/3 innings of work last year on July 13, including three homers to Kyle Stowers.