Five round-trippers led the Baltimore Orioles over the Cincinnati Reds before 28,534 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Reds (10-11) | 5 | 13 | 0 |
| Baltimore Orioles (9-11) |
9 | 11 | 1 |
| W: Dominguez (2-0) L: Greene (2-2) SV: Bautista (2) |
|||
| Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread | |||
Six of Baltimore’s runs in the game came via the long ball. On the other hand, the Reds had only two home runs, solo shots by Jake Fraley and Austin Hays, and couldn’t come up with the big hit when needed with men on base in the later innings.
With a Chicago Cubs win, the Reds fall three behind the National League Central Division leaders.
The Offense
For the game, Cincinnati batters’ combined line: 13-for-36, 9 walks, 7 strikeouts and 5 runs. Most games, that sort of line will result in a win. But not today. The Reds left 13 men on base. Cincinnati came into the game with the top batting average with runners in scoring position (.290), and hit 4-for-17 in those situations today (.235).
Cincinnati took the quick lead in the top of the first against Baltimore rookie righthander Brandon Young, making his major league debut. After singles by T.J. Friedl and Hays, Gavin Lux’s two-out single scored Friedl. Santiago Espinal followed with a single to right, but a strong throw by Tyler O’Neill cut down Hays at the plate to end the rally and half-inning with the Reds up 1-0.
Trailing 2-1 in the top of the second, Fraley took care of that with a leadoff solo homer to tie the game. An out later, back-to-back doubles by Jose Trevino and Friedl put the visitors up again by a run, 3-2. It would have been more, but the out was Jeimer Candelario being picked off at first base after drawing a walk.
Friedl drew a leadoff walk in the top of the fifth, and that was all for Young. Righthander Bryan Baker came on to strike out Matt McLain as Friedl stole second. Elly De La Cruz then walked, as did Lux with two out to load the bases. But Espinal ended the inning with a fly-out to right.
Lefthander Keenan Akin entered in the top of the sixth. Fraley drew a leadoff walk, and Candelario, batting righthanded, laced a double to the left-field corner — putting the tying runs in scoring position with nobody out. Trevino popped up for the first out. Friedl then laid down a bunt along the first-base line which he beat out for a hit, scoring Fraley and moving Candelario to third. Righthander Siranthony Dominguez was then brought on to face McLain, who hit into a very adeptly turned double play to short-circuit that rally.
De La Cruz led off the seventh against Dominguez with a 112-mph exit-velocity single up the middle. He stole second base as Hays struck out to put the tying run in scoring position with one out. Lefthander Gregory Soto then came on to face Lux. During the Lux at-bat, De La Cruz stole third, and then Lux walked on the next pitch. Espinal flied out to left, too shallow for De La Cruz to try to score, for the second out. Lux stole second during Fraley’s at-bat, putting the go-ahead run in scoring position. Fraley ended up walking, loading the bases with two outs. But Candelario grounded out to end the inning.
Hays led off the ninth with his solo shot, followed by a Lux double and a walk to Espinal against reliever Matt Bowman. Orioles Manager Brandon Hyde then brought on closer Felix Bautista, who struck out Fraley, induced a ground-out from Candelario and a line-out by Trevino to end it.
Friedl was the offensive star, batting 4-for-4 with a walk and two RBIs. Fraley also reached base five times on two hits and three walks. Lux reached base four times (2 hits, 2 walks). After today’s game, today’s lineup had four .300 hitters: Friedl (.307), Hays (.364), Lux (.308) and Trevino (.318) — a far cry from the first couple of weeks of the season.
The Pitching
The sad but true team pitching line: 8 innings, 11 hits, 7 walks, 7 strikeouts, 9 runs and the 5 homers.
Hunter Greene got off to a slow start, with the first two Orioles hitters — Cedric Mullens and Gunnar Henderson — taking him deep for a 2-1 Baltimore lead. It was a sign of things to come. Two outs later, Greene hit two other Oriole hitters with pitches, but got out of the inning with a strikeout looking of Jordan Westburg. The result was a 29-pitch opening inning.
Pitching in the second with a one-run lead, Greene allowed doubles by Ramon Urias and Henderson which tied the game at three. Then in the third, he walked O’Neill after being ahead 0-2, followed by a homer to left by Ramon Laureano to put Baltimore up 5-3. It was the first time Greene allowed three homers in a game since 2023.
Greene clearly didn’t have it today, so Manager Terry Francona removed him after three innings. Lefty Taylor Rogers pitched a scoreless fourth. Carson Spiers then entered in the fifth and retired the Orioles one-two-three. He had been listed as the starting pitcher for Sunday, leaving tomorrow’s starting pitcher up in the air as this post goes live. In the sixth, Spiers walked two of the first three he faced, but escaped damage by retiring Henderson and Ashley Rutschman to end the inning. With two out in the seventh, Laureano and Jordan Westburg launched back-to-back solo shots to put Baltimore up 7-4.
It appeared that Spiers was asked to “take one for the team” by pitching the eighth when he seemed out of gas. The intent: Save bullpen arms for what appears to be a bullpen game Sunday. He allowed two more runs and finished the game with 94 pitches thrown in relief.
Post-game, Francona said three relievers were not available today, without naming them.
One Fan’s Thoughts
We’re getting to know the managerial mindset of Terry Francona as the first month of the season unfolds. Two weeks ago, he made a comment to the effect that he believes that over time, players’ statistics will wind up where they are supposed to be, no matter how hot or cold they happen to be at the moment.
Despite a slow start at the plate for most of the regular players, Francona stuck with them, both in the lineup and in their customary spots in the batting order. Sure enough, the statistics have begun to approach — and in some cases exceed — what we would expect.
Had I been the manager, I would have yanked many of these guys long ago and tried many different batting order combinations in an attempt to get something going. Currently McLain and Candelario are two players struggling at the dish, but I look for Francona to leave them in.
I’ve mentioned before that I believe that a certain future Hall-of-Fame manager knows much more than me about how to win, and I am very willing to rely on his experience and expertise.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds at Baltimore Orioles
Sunday, April 20, 1:35 p.m. ET
TBA vs. Charlie Morton (0-4, 8.84 ERA)
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