Adley Rutschman hit a grand slam that slipped from Houston outfielder Brice Matthews’ glove, powering the Baltimore Orioles to a 10-3 victory over the Astros in Game 1 of a Thursday doubleheader at Camden Yards. Jeremiah Jackson added another grand slam as Baltimore hit two in the game. Hall of Famer Jim Palmer ate his first chicken wing on air, fulfilling a broadcast promise.
In the top of the fifth inning, Rutschman faced Houston left-hander Steven Okert with the bases loaded and one out. Batting right-handed, the 28-year-old catcher drove a 2-2 fastball deep to left-center field. Astros outfielder Brice Matthews leaped for a catch but crashed into the wall, causing the ball to pop out of his glove and drop into the Orioles’ bullpen for a grand slam, giving Baltimore a 5-0 lead. Rutschman said, “I thought I was getting a run in on a sac fly, if not. So, just trying to have a positive outlook, but worked out good.” Baserunners initially tagged up, thinking it was caught, until the Orioles’ relievers signaled the home run with their celebratory bird motion, and umpires confirmed it was gone. This marked Rutschman’s third career grand slam and his first since hitting two in 2024. Since returning from the injured list on April 21, he has hit .440 with four homers and 14 RBIs over six games. Right-hander Chris Bassitt supported with 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball and seven strikeouts. Jackson’s seventh-inning grand slam off Jason Alexander, his second of the season, extended the lead to 10-1 and boosted his RBI total to a team-high 24. Orioles manager Craig Albernaz, who missed Jackson’s first grand slam after a foul ball fractured his face, smiled, “Absolutely, yeah. It was good to see that.” Baltimore’s last multi-grand slam game was on Sept. 11, 2015, against Kansas City. During the MASN broadcast, Hall of Famer Jim Palmer, 80, ate his first chicken wing in the eighth inning, honoring a promise made April 16, 2025, to color commentator Kevin Brown. Palmer remarked, “It’s a lot of skin, that’s all I can tell you. They’re greasy, by the way. ... Actually, these are pretty good.” The Orioles lost Game 2, 11-5.
