Hyde wraps up Orioles' 7-2 win

SARASOTA, Fla. - In his first game as a major league manager, albeit one that didn't count in real standings, Brandon Hyde placed zero importance on the final score. As the Orioles readied to take batting practice this morning on another sun-splashed Sarasota day, he sat in the home dugout at Ed Smith Stadium and insisted that he cared only about evaluating the performances.

Take in the good and the bad and discuss. A "straight evaluation deal," as he put it.

Most of what unfolded in front of Hyde had to please him, including the three-run homer from Chance Sisco, the two-run shot from Yusniel Diaz, and Cedric Mullins' single, double, walk, stolen base and two runs scored from atop the order in a 7-2 victory over the Twins.

"I thought it was pretty good first game," Hyde said. "I thought we were aggressive on the bases and I think that's what I'm looking for is guys who kind of set the tone. Cedric right away in the first inning. We went first to third twice. So I thought we did a lot of good things, especially for the first game."

With this one out of the way, Hyde can prepare to field questions on Sunday about managing his second game. The media eventually will tire of keeping count.

"It feels good," Hyde said. "With Joe (Maddon), I did a lot of the split-squad stuff, so I'm pretty much used to that with spring training, what the game feels like with the substitutions and making sure when guys know when they're going in and the scripted pitching stuff. All that stuff I've done before, so that was nothing new.

"To have a new group of guys I'm not familiar with was a good experience and I enjoyed it."

Hyde never felt that he was caught by surprise, ambushed by the unexpected. He got his feet wet without sinking.

"I think I've done it so much that I think as spring training goes on, me and Flo (José Flores) are going to be working together obviously really closely, so kind of getting our rhythm down," Hyde said. "And the dugout talk, all that kind of stuff, will form as we go along. All those little intricacies that happen, those things are going to iron themselves out throughout the spring training."

Diaz walloped a two-run homer off left-hander Gabriel Moya in the third inning, a typical spring training no-doubter to left field. He also flied to center field and struck out with the bases loaded.

"Pretty good," Hyde said after his eyes widened at the mere mention of Diaz's name. "He took some really good swings. Even the strikeout, where he laid off a couple of really nasty off-speed pitches underneath, the guy just threw him a great 3-2 changeup. But just to be able to see his presence at the plate and not be jumpy, I was really, really impressed.

"He just missed one his first at-bat with a great swing. Obviously hits a homer. But his third at-bat, even the strikeout, that was a pro AB the way he laid off some really, really tough pitches in a runner in scoring position situation. I was really, really impressed. The guy (Justin Nicolino) just beat him on a 3-2 changeup, which happens."

When Hyde gazes into the Orioles' future, hoping not too far in the distance, he can see Sisco and Diaz come into focus. The former second round draft pick and the top prospect obtained in the Manny Machado deal.

Sisco turns 24 on Sunday. Diaz is 22.

They want to impress. Hyde just wants them to relax and be themselves.

"I don't want them to want to impress me," Hyde said. "What I want them to do is really feel comfortable and I want them to be aggressive and I want them to showcase their skills. I want them to take good at-bats and play hard. If that impresses me or not, I'm not concerned about it.

"I've told them that. I don't want them to try to do something they're not capable of doing. They're here for a reason. Let your ability take over and let your ability take care of itself."

The game ended with Zach Pop, also part of the return from the Machado trade, retiring the side in order in the ninth inning.

"Obviously we did some good things today," Hyde said. "I thought some guys did that."