SARASOTA, FLA. — Former Orioles pitching prospect Eduardo Rodriguez, who was dealt to the Boston Red Sox at the trade deadline last year, threw three perfect innings in a 7-6 win over his old team Saturday.
Rodriguez retired all nine Orioles hitters he faced, striking out three while displaying a fastball that sat between 94 and 96 mph.
"It was a lot of fun," Rodriguez said. "It was fun to spend some time with guys I spent four years with. I said hello to a lot of them and they said hello to me. I just tried to keep the same routine and do what I was doing. Thankfully, it went well.
"I kept the same approach, maybe tightened some things up here and there. I think I did get a lot out of facing their starting guys."
The 21-year-old left-hander, the Orioles' No. 3 overall prospect last season, was traded to the Red Sox on July 31 for left-handed reliever Andrew Miller.
"We thought he was a good prospect, too, remember?" Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "It wasn't propaganda. … He's a little older, a little thicker like guys his age. ... He's a good prospect."
After the trade, Rodriguez was 3-1 with a 0.96 ERA in six starts with the Red Sox's Double-A affiliate in Portland, Maine. He was 3-7 with a 4.79 ERA in 16 starts with Double-A Bowie before the deal, missing more than a month with a knee sprain.
"I've been working very hard," Rodriguez said, "not just for myself or to impress them, but also for my teammates and to make a good impression."