With a dazzling performance from the Orioles starting pitchers, Baltimore swept the three-game series with the Cincinnati Reds much to the chagrin of the fans at Great America Ball Park.
Baltimore ended the series with a record of (23-11) good for first place in the AL East and the best record in the American League. The Baltimore starters allowed NO earned runs the entire series. For the series they pitched 19 1/3 scoreless innings. The Reds (16-18) finished the series with six hits.
In the first game of the series, a 3-0 Baltimore win, starter Cole Irvin struck out four and allowed two hits in 6.1 innings of work. The 6’4″ lefthander threw 72 pitches, 50 for strikes.
He improved to (3-1) with a 2.86 ERA. The bullpen was also lights out as closer Craig Kimbrel struck out the side and earned his eighth save of the season. The Birds scored three runs in the seventh inning highlighted by Ryan O’Hearn’s (5) 397ft two-run homer to centerfield. The Baltimore win probability jumped to 89.3%.
In the middle game of the series a 2-1 win, the Orioles saw the return of starter John Means from the Injured List. He was sensational. Means, picking up where he left off from last year, struck out eight while allowing three hits in seven innings of work. He threw 85 pitches, 58 for strikes. His stuff was filthy and nasty. He is (1-0) with a 0.00 ERA.
Means was supported with homers from Jorge Mateo (2) a 374ft shot to left center in the fourth inning and Adley Rutschman’s (5) 377ft blast to center in the fifth inning.
The series finale, a 11-1 Baltimore beatdown, starter Dean Kremer pitched Baltimore’s third gem of the series. He struck out six while allowing one hit and one walk in six innings of work. He threw 93 pitches, 53 for strikes. The 6’2″ righthander improved to (3-2) with a 3.57 ERA. He has 37 strikeouts in 40.1 innings pitched.
Jordan Westburg (6) began the scoring with a 378ft three-run first inning homer and Anthony Santander (5) ended the Baltimore scoring with a ninth inning 402ft Grand Slam giving the Birds and 11-0 lead. He finished 3-4 with five RBI. Baltimore win probability 100%. Rutschman (.324 BA) finished 2-5 with two RBI.
