Ruiz latest Oriole to hit three-run homer in first

SARASOTA, Fla. - The three-run homer is becoming a staple of Orioles spring training games. At least after two days.

Rio Ruiz, starting at third base today, followed a Trey Mancini single and two-out walk by Ryan Mountcastle with a shot over the right field fence to give the Orioles another quick lead.

Ruiz has hit four home runs in the majors in 195 plate appearances.

Mancini singled up the middle against right-hander Sean Reid-Foley. Chris Davis ran the count to 2-2 and couldn't check his swing on a pitch diving in the dirt, but Mountcastle drew a walk and Ruiz unloaded.

Manager Brandon Hyde likely will praise the Mountcastle at-bat that extended the inning.

Chance Sisco hit a three-run homer yesterday in the first inning in a 7-2 win over the Twins. Who's going to maintain the streak on Sunday in Fort Myers?

The Jays shifted against Davis, of course, putting three infielders on the right side. But they didn't drop an infielder into shallow right field.

They also stationed three infielders on the left side against Mancini and Mountcastle in the first inning, and three to the right against DJ Stewart and three to the left against Austin Hays in the second.

They were a shifty bunch.

Fundamentals are a point of emphasis in Orioles camp, as usual, and Hyde saw his club cut down a runner at the plate today in the first inning.

David Hess allowed singles to the first two batters he faced and they advanced on Lourdes Gurriel Jr.'s long fly ball to right field. Rowdy Tellez grounded to Davis, who threw to the plate for the out. Carlos Pérez applied the tag on Billy McKinney.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the No. 1 prospect in baseball, got jammed and grounded weakly to short.

Dalton Pompey led off the second with a home run after Hess fell behind 3-0, but the right-hander retired the next three batters on two ground balls and a fly ball to left-center field.

Hess threw 27 pitches in his spring debut, 18 for strikes. He allowed one run and three hits over two frames.

Left-hander Tanner Scott replaced Hess in the third inning and surrendered doubles to McKinney and Gurriel that reduced the lead to 3-2.

Tellez poked a single up the middle to put runners on the corners for Guerrero, who reached on a dribbler in front of the mound to tie the game. Scott threw to first instead of flipping the ball to Pérez and he pulled Davis off the bag. Guerrero was given a hit and RBI.

Diogenes Almengo, summoned from minor league camp, has replaced Scott with one out.