BALTIMORE — Adley Rutschman Praises Former Team, Hurts Their Playoff Chances
Adley Rutschman had nothing but nice things to share about his previous teammates.
But then he went ahead and impacted their chances for a postseason run.
Returning to Camden Yards, Rutschman hit two solo home runs for the Boston Red Sox in a closely contested 6-5 victory against Baltimore on Thursday night.
This defeat left the Orioles 1 ½ games behind for the final wild-card spot in the American League.
“What a way to make a comeback,” said Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy. “That was incredible.”
As Rutschman stepped up to bat with two outs in the first inning, the crowd — including folks from the Baltimore dugout — gave him a warm standing ovation.
He then took a 1-1 pitch from Brandon Young and sent it soaring over the right-field wall.
This marked his 10th home run of the season and his second since being traded from the Orioles to the Red Sox in early August. He followed it up with another homer in the sixth inning, narrowing Baltimore’s lead to 3-2.
Rutschman also enjoyed a video tribute during the break between the first and second innings, with another enthusiastic reception despite already making an offensive impact for his new team.
“All of this was really special, a testament to them as an organization,” Rutschman said afterward. “They really know how to do things right.”
Interestingly, Rutschman had hit two home runs against the Red Sox while still with the Orioles back on April 24.
According to OptaSTATS, he’s the first major league player to hit multiple home runs for both teams in the same matchup during a single season.
Though Rutschman recently dealt with elbow issues, he was back in the lineup after sitting out the previous three games. His batting average since the trade has been somewhat disappointing at .193, but maybe this is the kickstart he needs for a stronger finish to the season.
Having been drafted No. 1 overall by the Orioles in 2019, Rutschman made his major league debut in 2022, contributing to a turn-around where Baltimore clinched the AL East in 2023 and made it to the playoffs in 2024.
However, the last two years have been trickier for the team. Although Rutschman earned All-Star status for the third time this year, the Orioles opted to trade him to the Red Sox just before the deadline.
“So many memories and positive experiences. The folks in Baltimore have always shown me immense respect and love, and I’ve felt that each time I’ve been here,” Rutschman expressed before the game. “I’m just really grateful for that.”
Rutschman’s current situation gives him a better chance at postseason play. Boston is on track to qualify, sitting comfortably in the second wild card spot. Meanwhile, the Orioles are still in the race but find themselves at the bottom of the AL East.
Once the pregame reunions wrapped up, the stakes were pretty high.
“He couldn’t resist. He stopped by the clubhouse for a bit,” Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said before the game. “There were plenty of hugs and some playful banter. It was nice to see him.”
