DENVER — Zach Eflin struck out nine in seven sparkling innings and James McCann homered, helping the Baltimore Orioles beat the Colorado Rockies 6-1 on Sunday.
Gunnar Henderson had two hits and two RBIs for Baltimore, which had dropped three of four. Anthony Santander also had two hits.
The Orioles (79-59) closed out a 3-3 trip and moved within a half-game of the AL East-leading New York Yankees, who lost 14-7 to St. Louis.
Eflin (10-7) allowed one run and four hits. He has won all five of his starts for Baltimore since he was acquired in a trade with Tampa Bay on July 26. The right-hander was activated from the 15-day injured list before the game after being sidelined by shoulder inflammation.
The 30-year-old Eflin retired his first 15 batters and needed just 49 pitches to get through five innings. He struck out the side in the third and need just six pitches to get through the fifth.
Colorado got its first baserunner when Jake Cave opened the sixth with a dribbler down the third base line for an infield single. Cave moved up on a wild pitch and Jordan Beck walked before Drew Romo bounced into a double play and Ezequiel Tovar was retired on a comebacker to the mound.
Nolan Jones hit a two-out RBI single in the seventh to account for the Rockies’ only run.
The Orioles grabbed control with four runs in the fourth against Ty Blach (3-7). McCann hit a two-run shot for his fifth homer of the season.
Henderson hit an RBI double in the first and a run-scoring single in the seventh.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Orioles: Placed INF Ramón Urías on the 10-day IL with a right ankle sprain. … RHP Jacob Webb (elbow inflammation) was scheduled to make a rehab start with Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday.
Rockies: Placed RHP Cal Quantrill on the 15-day IL with a triceps injury. Manager Bud Black said he expects Quantrill to return before the end of the season.
UP NEXT
Orioles: RHP Corbin Burnes (12-7, 3.23 ERA) will start the opener of a three-game home series against the Chicago White Sox on Monday night.
Rockies: LHP Kyle Freeland (4-6, 5.51 ERA) will open a six-game road trip at Atlanta on Tuesday night.
On Tuesday night, Zach Eflin put on a pitching clinic as he led the Baltimore Orioles to a 5-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies. Eflin threw seven strong innings, allowing just two runs on five hits while striking out six batters.
Eflin’s performance was a welcome sight for Orioles fans, as the team has struggled on the mound this season. The 27-year-old right-hander has been a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing season for Baltimore, posting a 3.78 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP in 20 starts.
Eflin’s success against the Rockies can be attributed to his ability to command his pitches and keep hitters off balance. He mixed in his fastball, slider, and changeup effectively, consistently hitting his spots and inducing weak contact.
In addition to his strong pitching performance, Eflin also helped his own cause at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. His offensive contributions added to the Orioles’ offensive output, as they scored five runs on nine hits to secure the win.
Overall, Eflin’s performance against the Rockies was a testament to his talent and potential as a starting pitcher in the major leagues. If he can continue to pitch at this level, he could be a key piece in the Orioles’ rotation for years to come.