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Cedric Mullins left the game with what Brandon Hyde called a right adductor/groin strain. The injury took things from bad to worse in the Orioles’ 5-0 loss.
The Orioles have notoriously stayed close in almost every game so far this year. The hardy Birds have earned much praise, but Baltimore didn’t live up to its reputation today.
Logan Allen put Baltimore to sleep for seven innings, and Cleveland used a four-run seventh to put the Orioles away. Baltimore fell 5-0 in the first of a three-game series at Camden Yards.
The inning started innocently enough with a one-out Baltimore hit by Myles Straw against Cionel Perez. Will Brennan followed with a single that saw it off, and Cam Gallagher drove in Cleveland’s second run of the day with another groundout that slipped through the infield.
Steven Kwan bounced another grounball up the middle that worked its way into the outfield. Brennan came around to score, and the runners advanced to second and third.
Baltimore, trailing by three, brought in the infield and turned to reliever Mike Baumann. Baumann hit a groundout to second that should have produced an out, but Frazier’s home plate missed James McCann. The ball bounced past the catcher and allowed two more runs to score.
Cleveland had worked its way to a five-run lead. The Orioles never recovered.
Things took a darker turn in the bottom of the eighth. Cedric Mullins bounced a ball into the hole at short and seemed destined for an infield single. Instead, Mullins stopped and barely reached for the bag. The pitch beat a limping Mullins for the second out, and the center fielder left the game after hitting his groin.
MASN’s Kevin Brown noted that Mullins has never made a trip to the disabled list in his major league career, to which Jim Palmer responded, “That just changed.”
Brandon Hyde said after the game that Mullins suffered a right groin/adductor strain.
Cleveland struck first when Brennan led off the fifth with a double to right field. Brennan immediately advanced to third on a balk by Tyler Wells, and Gallagher drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Wells pitched well enough to win the game, but Baltimore squandered the quality start. The right-hander allowed four hits, just one run, and struck out seven in six innings. He got out of a bind in the first and threw 65 of 101 pitches for strikes.
Logan Allen kept the Orioles in check for seven near-perfect innings. Allen allowed just three hits, two walks and struck out 10. The 24-year-old rookie generated a lot of weak contact and kept Baltimore from getting settled at the plate.
The Orioles’ best chance came in the fourth when Ryan Mountcastle reached on error and Ramón Urías rebounded on a fielder’s choice. James McCann doubled down the line to advance Urías to third, but Adam Frazier struck out to end the inning.
The Orioles put up two runners to start the ninth, but Urías, a pinch-hitter Gunnar Henderson and Frazier all failed to drive in a run for the Birds.
Anthony Santander recorded three of Baltimore’s five hits. Mullins walked a couple of times, but his injury will mark the lasting legacy of this game.
Colton Cowser and Kyle Stowers are currently on the Triple-A disabled list. Daz Cameron, a deep piece who is quietly putting together a good season with the Tides, could replace Mullins if a trip to the IL is deemed necessary.
The Orioles have officially completed a third of the season. They are now 34-20 and on their way to 102 wins. Kyle Gibson will take the ball tomorrow night against Cleveland starter Cal Quantrill.
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