David Hess led three homegrown pitchers to a win Saturday

In Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader, the Orioles used three homegrown pitchers to beat the Tampa Bay Rays with right-hander David Hess getting his first major league chance and making the most of it.

Even though he was pitching on three days' rest, and even though he gave up a three-run homer to Rays' Matt Duffy in the first inning, Hess didn't buckle under any pressure and he showed some talent and poise out there.

It was a day that Hess (round 5, 2014), Tanner Scott (round 6, 2014) and Mychal Givens (round 2, 2009) combined for an eight-hitter with no walks and five strikeouts. By the way, a homegrown catcher in Chance Sisco caught all three. And homegrown players Jonathan Schoop and Manny Machado combined for three homers.

That had to make some fans, and players and coaches around the Orioles minor leagues, proud. Not to mention some scouts and members of the Orioles player development department.

Hess turned a buzzkill first inning into a feel-good day when he began to pitch so well starting with a 1-2-3 second inning that ended with a strikeout. He went six innings allowing six hits and three runs. He threw 78 pitches, 59 for strikes and gave up just two singles after the first inning.

Hess couldn't remember if he had ever pitched on three days' rest as a pro. Maybe once in the playoffs at Bowie he thought. He did pitch once on three days' rest in his last start in college at Tennessee Tech.

"I think more than anything, just going out there and not even thinking about that," Hess said of his mindset working on short rest. "Whatever the circumstances are just go out there and compete any time I get the ball. Whether it's three days' rest, six days' rest, whatever. Any time I get the ball I want to compete and give the team a chance to win."

Of his 78 pitches, Hess threw 40 four-seam fastballs that averaged 93 mph and topped at 95. He threw 26 sliders, getting five swings and misses. He threw seven changeups and five curveballs. It was a four-pitch mix with heavy use of the first two.

As the 26th man added for the doubleheader, Hess was officially sent back to Triple-A Norfolk after the game. But unlike an optioned player, Hess doesn't need to stay in the minors 10 days before he can return. In fact the Orioles could add him back sooner and probably will to pitch in the series that begins Thursday at Boston.

He earned his chance to make yesterday's start and he's sure earned the chance to make another. We may have seen a rotation changing of the guard the past few days with Chris Tillman out and Hess in.

You only get once chance to make your MLB debut and Hess had one he'll never forget. With more than 20 family and friends cheering him on in front of the press box, he took a poor first inning and turned his outing into one special afternoon.

"I can't really even put it into words," he said before he went out for hugs and high fives from his personal cheering section. "It is just an experience that you literally dream about since you were a kid. It is hard to put into words but it definitely has been everything and more that I hoped it would be."