WASHINGTON -- Craig Albernaz had no updates Monday on the imaging results for outfielder Heston Kjerstad (right hamstring) and left-hander Keegan Akin (adductor discomfort), but the Orioles manager said X-rays revealed infielder Luis Vázquez suffered a broken right thumb on Sunday. No recovery timeline had been set.
Vázquez, who was battling for a roster spot on the Orioles' bench, was hit on the right thumb by a 92 mph cutter and required stitches.
Right-hander Shane Baz tossed five shutout innings and Chris Bassitt, Yennier Cano and Dietrich Enns combined to finish the final four frames for the shutout.
Bassitt, who spent the last three seasons with AL East rival Blue Jays, likes the potential for the Orioles this season: "To me it's not so much ‘win that game, win that game’, like freaking out about winning one game.
“It's more so about taking pride of what we stand for as a team. What we do every single day, how we play the game. I want us to fall in love with how we play the game. I want us to enjoy the process of how we play each game. The wins and losses are just a result of that."
A two-run blast to right field by designated hitter Leody Taveras in the seventh inning was all the offense needed as the six-year vet fights for an Opening Day roster spot.
"Leody, he stung that ball,” Albernaz said. “I thought that was not going to go the way the wind was going. It was a great swing by Leody. The roster stuff? We will see."
The Orioles went 13-13-3 in Spring Training and open their 73rd season Thursday against the Twins at Camden Yards.
"I think it was a great spring,” Albernaz said. “Just the work, the attention to detail, the intensity, the competitiveness. It was fun. Boys were loose. It's tough to kind of blend that all together and they did it. It just speaks to the players in that clubhouse. They jelled well. They push each other. They have fun with each other. They make it enjoyable for them to show up to the field every day ready to work. That's all you can ask for."