From the first pitch of Thursday night’s ballgame in Cleveland, the Baltimore Orioles took and kept the lead over the Cleveland Guardians.
The Birds beat Cleveland, 3-0, to take two out of the clubs’ three mid-week contests. Baltimore (69-61) was backed by a pair of 1st-inning home runs by Cedric Mullins and Anthony Santander off Guardians starter Shane Bieber, along with a 4th inning shot by Ryan Mountcastle.
Mullins began the O’s offensive strike by launching Bieber’s first pitch of the game over the right field wall. Two batters later, Santander ripped a pitch deep to right center, doubling the Baltimore lead and giving the outfielder his 24th home run of the season.
“It happens from time to time. You hope it’s not a leadoff home run on the first pitch of the game, but that was the case today,” said Bieber after the game. “Found myself on my heels a little bit, but just trying to make the most of it, go out there and compete.”
Mountcastle roped a 4th-inning shot just beyond the left field wall for his 19th of the year, as Bieber (8-8) would last seven innings, allowing six hits and three earned runs despite recording 11 strikeouts – a season-high for the right-hander and his third game in 2022 with at least 10 K’s.
“Just frustrating to have it go the way that it did, but it is what it is. We gotta get ready for tomorrow.”
The Guardians managed just two hits off Orioles righthander Kyle Bradish over his 7-inning outing. Bradish (3-5) struck out five and drew two walks, which each came in the bottom of the 3rd for the Guardians, but with no runs scored.
For the third time in the last four games, Cleveland was held scoreless.
“We’re not certainly swinging the bats like we can – or we will,” Guardians manager Terry Francona added postgame. “Just gotta fight through it.”
With the win, the Orioles now hold a 1.5-game lead for fourth place in the American League Wild Card standings over the Minnesota Twins (67-62), who are now one game back of the Guardians for the AL Central lead. On top of that, Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde notched his 200th career win.
Cleveland (68-61) will now host the surging Seattle Mariners in a three-game homestand, which begins Friday (7:10 p.m. start). The Mariners (73-58), who have won seven out of their last nine contests, are expected to start right-hander Luis Castillo (5-5, 2.85 earned run average) against the Guardians’ Zach Plesac (3-11, 4.39 ERA).
