This, that and the other

Jorge López just wants the ball. Starter or reliever. But he seems to prefer coming out of the bullpen, his smile offering proof before his words when asked about it.

López was dominant again last night with two scoreless and hitless innings in a 2-1 win over the Red Sox. He retired the side in order in the ninth and stranded automatic runner Jaylin Davis in the 10^th while tackling the top of the potent Red Sox lineup – beginning with a strikeout of Trevor Story.

“He’s still himself, but he’s just a different animal out there this year,” said starter Spenser Watkins, the first of seven pitchers used.

“It’s really, really fun to watch him go after hitters and just do what he does best. He’s been great.”

How much enjoyment is López finding in 2022?

“Every day,” he said after lowering his ERA to 1.59. “That’s my first thing when I get here. Every day I just thank God for having an opportunity to be here and just be happy and have fun out there.

“I love to be out there. It doesn’t matter the situation. The season is so long, so we’re going to have ups and downs. But just get out there and have fun and get that mentality of just getting those guys out and give the team a chance at winning.”

The bullpen turned in 5 1/3 scoreless innings behind Watkins to lower its ERA to 3.46.

“Unbelievable,” López said. “We’ve just got some guys. I’m still learning from them, too. I’m just blessed to have those good innings and support the team, to stay close in the game. It’s just really good overall.”

* Who doesn’t love baseball oddities? And I’m not talking about the beat crew.

Kyle Bradish became the first pitcher since 1974 to strike out the first batter faced in the majors and induce a double play from the second. A situation made possible by the wild pitch on a slider that bounced past catcher Robinson Chirinos and allowed Trevor Story to reach base.

STATS research only goes back to ’74, which also informs us that Bradish is the fourth during that period to strike out his first batter but not record the out. He joins the Pirates’ John Holdzkom in 2014, the Reds’ Enerio Del Rosario in 2010 and the Expos’ Trey Moore in 1998.

Holdzkom made nine relief appearances in 2014 in his only major league experience. Del Rosario made 19 relief appearances over parts of three seasons. Moore didn’t pitch in 1999 due to injury and made a combined 10 appearances with the Expos and Braves over the next two seasons.

Bradish and Moore are the only starters to accomplish the feat, if that’s what we’re calling it, since 1974.

José Hernández struck out against Moore and reached on a wild pitch. Yes, the same José Hernández who’s now on the Orioles’ coaching staff.

It’s a small baseball world, but I wouldn’t want to carpet it. (My own spin on the quip.)

The Orioles are 13-6 since 2008 when their starting pitcher makes his major league debut. They’d like for Bradish to last a lot longer than Moore and the others. To become an All-Star. To reach his potential.

His debut was a good start, so to speak.

Tyler Nevin, a teammate at Triple-A Norfolk and again with the Orioles, said he was excited for everyone to see Bradish pitch.

“He’s got unreal stuff. It’s like facing a pitching machine,” Nevin said.

“I’ve had a couple opportunities to face him in spring training in alternate site at-bats. He’s got unreal stuff, and it was fun to watch him. A couple pitches he’d probably say he wanted back, but I think as a whole he threw really well.

“It didn’t seem like the moment was too big for him. It was fun to watch him pitch.”

* If the Orioles decide to carry 14 pitchers on Monday, when rosters are reduced to 26 players, they could leave the staff untouched and figure out which position players are axed.

They could stay with the three left-handed relievers who broke camp with them – Paul Fry, Cionel Pérez and Keegan Akin. Check back later for possible changes.

But do they reach a point when they no longer can keep southpaw Nick Vespi at Triple-A Norfolk?

Vespi, 26, has made eight appearances without allowing an earned run. He’s surrendered five hits in 9 2/3 innings, walked one batter and struck out 15.

There’s a loss on his ledger based on the unearned run that scored in extra innings at Gwinnett.

Left-handed hitters are 0-for-13 against the Miami native, and right-handers are 5-for-19. His stuff has been nasty.

A major league debut should be coming to Vespi, an 18^th-round pick in the 2015 draft out of Palm Beach State College. He was good in spring training with no runs, hits or walks in three appearances over 2 1/3 innings. He’s been exceptional with Norfolk.