BALTIMORE -- Much of the announced crowd of 28,958 at Camden Yards rose to its feet during the top of the seventh inning Saturday night, showing their appreciation for Kyle Bradish with a loud standing ovation. The 29-year-old right-hander strolled off the field, then tipped the bill of his cap in response.
There has still never been a no-hitter thrown by an Orioles pitcher in the 34-plus-year history of the Baltimore ballpark. But for quite a while on this night, Bradish gave the home supporters reason to believe that could have changed.
Bradish took a no-hit bid into the seventh, before Kansas City’s Jac Caglianone spoiled it by leading off the frame with a single. Still, Bradish turned in a 6 2/3-inning gem that helped power Baltimore to a 6-1 win.
The O’s (45-51) have won a season-high-tying three consecutive games for the eighth time. They’ll have an opportunity for their first four-game winning streak -- and a sweep -- in Sunday’s series finale against the Royals, their final game before the All-Star break.
The only Kansas City baserunners through the first six innings came in the third, when Isaac Collins reached base on a two-out error by second baseman Jackson Holliday and Carter Jensen followed with a walk. But Bradish escaped that jam by getting Bobby Witt Jr. to pop out to end the inning.
So, Bradish had retired 18 of 20 Royals batters entering the seventh, before Caglianone singled on the righty’s 82nd pitch. The crowd cheered in support of what Bradish had accomplished.
Though Bradish couldn’t complete a historic feat, he delivered an impressive one-run, two-hit outing that lowered his ERA to 3.61 after 19 starts. He collected five strikeouts during the 96-pitch, 58-strike performance.
It wasn’t the first time Bradish has flirted with a no-no. On May 26, 2024, he threw seven hitless innings against the White Sox in Chicago. The Orioles’ combined effort ended when left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe gave up a home run to Danny Mendick to open the eighth.
Pete Alonso (two-run homer in the fourth), Coby Mayo (Statcast-projected 440-foot home run in the fifth), Taylor Ward (solo shot in the sixth) and Gunnar Henderson (leadoff homer in the eighth) all went deep in support of Bradish’s latest gem.