BALTIMORE — Ramón Laureano nearly etched his name into the annals of baseball history with what would have been an exceptional feat. In the eighth inning, his powerful drive stopped just shy of clearing the fence. Another few feet would have given him a rare trio of home runs in a game he didn’t start – a rarity seen only by Cincinnati’s Art Shamsky against Pittsburgh back in 1966. Still, Laureano’s two home runs were instrumental in driving the Baltimore Orioles to a 9-5 triumph over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday.
Not since Trey Mancini’s performance in 2017 has an Orioles player left the bench and hit two homers in a single game like Laureano. Reflecting on the opportunity, Laureano remarked, “Always stay ready. Just wait for the chance, and that’s it.”
Taking the field in the top of the third inning, Laureano filled in for left fielder Heston Kjerstad, who had exited after being struck by a pitch near the elbow. Laureano’s entry would mark a turning point; his two-run blast in the third inning handed the Orioles a 5-3 edge, and a subsequent solo home run in the seventh expanded the lead to 6-4. Although his final flyout in the eighth traveled 390 feet to center field as estimated by Statcast, it would not have reached the stands in any major league stadium.
“It was a cool day for sure,” Laureano shared following his stellar performance.
Signed by the Orioles in February, Laureano finds himself amidst a crowded outfield. Historically, he has performed better against left-handed pitchers, yet has made only five starts this season. Despite this, his home runs on Saturday came against right-handers, Hunter Greene and Carson Spiers. Even with his impressive showing, Laureano’s overall stats for the year stand at a modest 4 for 21.
Manager Brandon Hyde praised Laureano’s preparedness and professionalism. “Ramon stays ready. He’s had a tough time getting opportunities so far this year. I’ve talked to him about it. I’m going to try to play him as much as I possibly can when I can get him in there. But he’s a pro,” Hyde stated.
Capping off his memorable day, Laureano made a leaping catch in left field to secure the game with two Reds on base in the ninth inning. Hyde expressed his admiration by declaring him the “player of the game.”