Wade LeBlanc throws five scoreless in intrasquad action

Two starting pitchers in line to start the third game of the 2020 season matched up tonight during the Orioles' fourth intrasquad game at Camden Yards. Lefty Wade LeBlanc started for the home team wearing white while right-hander Kohl Stewart took the mound for the visitors in orange.

LeBlanc threw a strong game with five scoreless innings and his squad won 3-0 in a six-inning game as Rio Ruiz hit a two-run homer and DJ Stewart, who had two hits, added an RBI double. LeBlanc gave up three hits with one walk and four strikeouts.

Signed to a minor league deal by the Orioles in late January, LeBlanc pitched to a 3.91 ERA over a three-year run from 2016 through 2018. But in 26 games last season with Seattle, he went 6-7 with a 5.71 ERA.

Each pitcher put up zeros through the game's first two innings. Then the home team scored three times in the last of the third against Stewart. Last June's No. 1 draft pick, Adley Rutschman, made his intrasquad debut by drawing a walk. Later he would catch a scoreless inning from Richard Bleier. Rutschman was erased at second on Austin Hays' fielder's choice grounder. Stewart followed with a booming RBI double to right-center for the 1-0 lead. One out later, Ruiz hit a two-run shot to right for a 3-0 lead and his second homer in two days.

In the first spring training, Ruiz hit .440 (11-for-25) with a 1.144 OPS. He had three doubles, a homer and two RBIs. Rutschman tonight drew two walks, one against Hunter Harvey, and grounded out in his third plate appearance, against Miguel Castro.

LeBlanc got into a two-out jam in the last of the second on a pair of singles by Pedro Severino and Austin Wynns. But he got a flyout to escape the only jam he got into tonight. He recorded three 1-2-3 innings and pitched around a two-out double in the top of the fifth.

Tonight's starters, if they continue to pitch every fifth day from this point forward, would be lined up to start the season's third game on Sunday, July 26 at Boston.

Stewart went four innings and gave up two hits and three runs, unofficially, with one walk and strikeout and the one homer allowed.

Harvey pitched out of a two-on jam to throw a scoreless fifth, ending his frame by striking out Ruiz on a high fastball.

Bleier pitched a scoreless inning with Rutschman behind the plate. It went so smoothly that after getting a 1-2-3 frame he faced another hitter to extend his pitch count. César Valdez and Castro pitched in the last of the sixth, which was extended for five or six outs. Yep, we see that in intrasquad action.

After the six-inning affair ended, some pitchers, including Tanner Scott, threw some live BP.