Zach Eflin shines as Orioles defeat White Sox in close battle
- Zach Eflin recorded his first scoreless outing of the season, striking out six batters while improving his ERA to 4.46.
- Ramon Urias scored the first run with a sacrifice fly, followed by Ryan Mountcastle stealing home during a double steal.
- The Orioles have shown improvement, winning five of their last seven games and successfully clinching their third home series victory.
On May 30, 2025, Zach Eflin led the Baltimore Orioles in a remarkable performance against the Chicago White Sox in a tightly contested game. Eflin allowed only four hits during his seven innings on the mound, resulting in no runs for the White Sox. His exceptional outing marked his first scoreless effort of the season, which notably improved his earned run average (ERA) to 4.46. With six strikeouts and just one walk, Eflin came close to completing his fourth career shutout, demonstrating his dominance over the plate. In critical moments, he effectively dismissed Chicago's key hitters such as Luis Robert Jr. and Joshua Palacios Jr., preventing any run-scoring opportunities. Ramon Urias broke the deadlock in the sixth inning with a sacrifice fly, while Ryan Mountcastle executed a double steal to add another run for Baltimore. Following a sublime eighth-inning performance from Bryan Baker, Felix Bautista closed the game, though he allowed Andrew Benintendi's RBI double in the ninth. Despite this, Bautista managed to earn his ninth save by stranding two White Sox runners. This narrow 2-1 victory over the White Sox highlighted the efficiency of the Orioles’ pitching staff in high-pressure situations, demonstrating their resilience as a competitive team. In a subsequent game on May 31, 2025, Jackson Holliday made headlines by hitting his first career leadoff home run, alongside Jorge Mateo, who launched his first homer of the season. The Orioles secured a 4-2 victory, marking their third consecutive home series win and indicating an upward trajectory in their performance over the past few weeks. Dean Kremer earned his second consecutive win by allowing just one run in six innings, showcasing Baltimore’s robust pitching depth. Meanwhile, the White Sox continued to struggle, falling to 18-40 for the season, with 22 games under .500, a severe indication of their struggles throughout the season. This particular match solidified the Orioles’ emerging competitive form, showcasing a blend of young talent and effective pitching, while Chicago's issues persisted, raising questions about their season ahead.