Eflin pleased with outing and Gibson's return, Orioles carry no-hitter into ninth

BRADENTON, Fla. – Zach Eflin was happy with his final exhibition start, but he didn’t smile during today’s media scrum until asked about Kyle Gibson.

They were teammates with the Phillies in 2021-22 and are reunited in spring training after the Orioles signed Gibson last night to a one-year deal.

“I was thrilled, absolutely thrilled,” Eflin said. “I think everybody in the clubhouse is thrilled. Everybody knows that Kyle Gibson is one of the best people on planet earth, so to be able to have him be a part of this team again is huge. Everybody’s looking forward to it.

“He’s such a role model, mentor in every single aspect of his life. He did great things with this team a couple years ago and I’m excited to be a part of it with him.”

The Orioles will break out one of the oldest rotations in baseball after Gibson completes his spring training.

“Experience is always good,” Eflin said. “Kind of pitch in any situation, any scenario. A lot of young guys look up to Charlie (Morton) and Gibby, just the fact that they’ve done it so long and have had so much success. And not only are they great on the field, but they’re even better people off the field. I think that speaks volumes and people are gonna just welcome them with open arms.”

Eflin counts as one of those veterans at age 30 with his nine years in the majors.

“I think I’m kind of at that 30 mark,” he said. “Some people might think so, some might not, but I’ve been around a good while and I’ve seen a lot of things, been a part of a lot of cool things. Been a part of a lot of really bad things. So I feel like I have some experience and whatnot. Just excited to get going.”

Eflin tossed three hitless innings against the Pirates in his last game before Opening Day in Toronto. He walked one batter and struck out four, and manager Brandon Hyde removed him at 45 pitches.

Ten of those pitches were used to strike out former Orioles infielder Adam Frazier in the second inning. Eflin strung together three consecutive strikeouts – Andrew McCutchen on a 91 mph sinker to end the first inning, former Orioles outfielder DJ Stewart on a curveball to lead off the second, and Frazier on the same pitch.

Jack Brannigan led off the third by striking out on a 91.5 mph sinker.

“I’ll take it for sure,” Eflin said. “Just wanted to make sure I checked the healthy boxes, get the pitch count up a little bit. Kind of go in healthy, finish healthy and get ready for the season.”

* The bullpen parade started in the fourth inning with Gregory Soto retiring the first two batters, walking McCutchen and Stewart and inducing a ground ball from Frazier. He had one strikeout and lowered his spring ERA to 5.14.

Yennier Cano got the fifth inning and retired the side in order on eight pitches. Cionel Pérez struck out two while retiring the side in order in the sixth on 11 pitches.

The Orioles' first exhibition no-hitter was alive.

Bryan Baker inherited the seventh and the Pirates couldn’t get a ball out of the infield. He threw seven pitches.

Roansy Contreras was next, and Enrique Bradfield Jr. ran down Bryce Johnson’s fly ball in right-center field for the first out. Contreras got a strikeout and fly ball. Eight hitless innings in the books.

Left-hander Riley Cooper began warming in the ninth. This story will be updated.

* Jackson Holliday made the start at shortstop again this afternoon and could get regular duty with Gunnar Henderson unable to return to the lineup due to his strained right intercostal.

Holliday was supposed to be the full-time second baseman and received the majority of his reps on the right side of the infield. Henderson has graduated to facing live pitching today in Sarasota but his last game action was Feb. 27.

“I just want to get him as comfortable as possible,” Hyde said of Holliday. “We still have a lot of balls in the air and still unsure about some things. I try to play him at short, maybe a little bit of second tomorrow. Trying to get him as comfortable as possible in both spots.”

Holliday walked in the seventh inning after Ramón Laureano was hit by a pitch, and Bradfield pinch-ran and immediately stole second and third base. Bradfield scored on Dylan Carlson’s single and Holliday raced home on Livan Soto’s single.

Carlson jogged home on Machín’s double-play grounder for a 3-0 lead.

Soto’s at-bat left him with a .381 average and .923 OPS.

* Morton and Dean Kremer will pitch Sunday afternoon against the Braves in North Port. That could leave left-hander Cade Povich with Monday's exhibition game in D.C., but the Orioles haven't announced their starter.

Eflin and Morton will start the first two games in Toronto and Kremer lines up third. Tomoyuki Sugano made his last start on Thursday and could throw an extended bullpen session on Tuesday in Toronto and close out the first series on March 30. That is, if Povich or Albert Suárez is the No. 5 starter and gets the home opener March 31 at Camden Yards.  

* Hyde didn't have any injury updates. Henderson felt good after yesterday’s workout and faced live pitching today. Jorge Mateo felt good after coming out of last night's game. Emmanuel Rivera remains shut down with a sore left shoulder.

Hyde also said no roster decisions have been made. No players have been told that they made the club.

* Paul Skenes faced the Orioles again today – it’s become a spring tradition – and shut them out over 3 1/3 innings. Ryan O’Hearn had the only hit with a one-out double in the first and Dylan Carlson walked in the second. Skenes struck out four. … Machín doubled in the fifth inning while filling his role as perhaps the biggest surprise in camp.