Baltimore Orioles Use Pair Of Grand Slams To Smoke Houston Astros In Game 1 Of Doubleheader

People in attendance at Camden Yards experienced fireworks from the Baltimore Orioles. Not the kind that involve dynamite or any other explosives, but those of the home-run variety. While the O’s only managed two in Game 1 of the doubleheader, they were both grand slams–one by Catcher Adley Rutschman and the other by Second Baseman Jeremiah Jackson. The dingers were the difference in Baltimore’s 10-3 thumping of the Houston Astros.

The win moves the O’s back to .500 at 15-15, scoring in the double digits for just the second time all season in the process. They also forced seven walks in the game. Starting Pitcher Chris Bassitt had a bounce-back outing to notch his second win on the year. But undoubtedly, the story of this contest was the power display by Rutschman and Jackson.

Rutschman Crushes Third Career Grand Slam With Orioles

At first, it was thought that Rutschman’s home run was robbed, even by the O’s announcer. On a 2-2 count in the fifth inning and the Orioles leading 1-0, the O’s catcher struck a fastball heading toward left center field as fans anticipated a padding to their team’s lead. Center Fielder Brice Matthews gave chase as the baseball arrived at the wall. Matthews appeared to time his leap flawlessly to make an outstanding over-the-wall catch, but he just missed it.

The Baltimore bullpen’s cheers confirmed that Rutschman had indeed belted his 3rd career grand slam and his first since June 9, 2024, at the Tampa Bay Rays. It was also Rutschman’s first career grand slam in a home game. On the season, the two-time All-Star is batting .356., albeit in a limited 16 games. The team has to find a way to keep Adley healthy approaching the summer months to have any hope to contend in the AL East.

Jackson Smashes Second Grand Slam Of The Season

If Rutschman’s home run was a close call, Jackson’s was the complete opposite. The at-bat started rather inauspiciously because Jackson was assessed an Automatic Strike after a Batter Pitch Timer Violation. The 26-year-old was not fazed at all. On the first pitch thrown, a hanging sweeper, Jackson also belted a shot to left center. The crowd erupted as Jackson held a pose, knowing exactly where the baseball was headed.

This is Jackson’s 2nd season in the league. He has already eclipsed his 2025 totals in home runs (6 this year, 5 last year) and OPS (.784 to .775). His 5 RBI in a game tied a career high set earlier this season. There are advanced metrics such as BABIP (.296 this year, .365 in 2025) that might suggest a regression could be coming, but what can’t be ignored is Jackson’s contributions to the Orioles in the first month of the season.

Baltimore Has Done This Before

Jackson and Rutschman hitting grand slams in the same game marks the eighth instance in franchise history for the Orioles. It is also the first such game since 2015 when Nolan Reimold and Steve Clevenger each drove in four runs on 1 home run against the Kansas City Royals. The O’s sent four baseballs into orbit at Camden Yards en route to a 14-8 laugher. The game was one of the few bright spots for the team as they missed the playoffs that year.

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