Baltimore, Maryland – Zach Eflin delivered a masterful performance on the mound Friday night, guiding the Baltimore Orioles to a tightly contested 2-1 victory over the struggling Chicago White Sox at Camden Yards. The right-hander threw seven shutout innings, allowing just four hits and a single walk while striking out six. His dominance helped lower his season ERA to 4.46 and marked his first scoreless outing of the 2025 MLB campaign, giving the Orioles a much-needed spark amid a middling stretch.
Facing a White Sox lineup that has struggled all season to produce runs, Eflin took control early and never let go. He worked efficiently through the first three innings, scattering singles and keeping Chicago hitters off balance with a mix of sinkers and curveballs. The Orioles defense backed him up with solid plays, including a smooth double play turned by Jordan Westburg and Ramón Urías in the fourth.
Eflin’s outing was especially significant given the state of Baltimore’s pitching rotation, which has battled inconsistency and injuries through the first half of the season. With Friday’s effort, Eflin reminded fans and coaches of the pitcher he can be when healthy and locked in. His seven innings of work marked the longest start by an Orioles pitcher in over two weeks.
Offensively, the Orioles did just enough to support Eflin’s gem. Both of Baltimore’s runs came in the sixth inning. Urías drove in the first with a sacrifice fly after Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson reached base. The second run came on a daring double steal, with Cedric Mullins swiping home in a rare and exhilarating moment — the Orioles’ first steal of home since 2021. The play was perfectly executed and caught the White Sox defense off guard, giving Baltimore a crucial insurance run.
Chicago starter Sean Burke also pitched well, matching Eflin through five innings before the Orioles broke through. Burke finished with six innings pitched, allowing two earned runs on five hits while striking out five. It was a solid outing from the rookie, but the lack of run support continues to be a persistent issue for Chicago’s young arms.
The White Sox threatened late in the ninth inning, finally breaking the shutout with a Mike Tauchman double followed by a groundout that scored a run. However, Orioles closer Félix Bautista locked down the save — his ninth of the year — by retiring the final two batters with the tying run stranded at second.
Reliever Bryan Baker handled the eighth inning for Baltimore, striking out two to bridge the gap to Bautista. The Orioles’ bullpen, which has been a strength all year, again delivered under pressure.
With the win, Baltimore improves to 28-27 and has now won four of their last six games. It’s a critical stretch as they look to stay afloat in a competitive AL East division. Manager Brandon Hyde praised Eflin’s effort postgame, calling it “one of the most composed and effective outings of the season.”
On the other side, the White Sox fell to 18-37, continuing what has been a frustrating campaign filled with inconsistency, injuries, and missed opportunities. Manager Pedro Grifol emphasized the need for the offense to improve if the team hopes to turn things around, despite strong showings from the pitching staff in recent days.
Looking ahead, the two teams will continue their weekend series with Game 2 scheduled for Saturday afternoon. Baltimore will look to build momentum from Friday’s win, while Chicago hopes to find some answers at the plate and snap their current skid.
Zach Eflin’s performance wasn’t just a personal milestone — it was a reminder of how crucial solid starting pitching can be, especially for a team looking to climb in the standings. If he can maintain this form, the Orioles could find themselves re-entering the playoff conversation sooner than expected.
Game Recap:
