The Baltimore Orioles streak of allowing five or more runs has increased to 18 straight games as the Cleveland won their second game of the series in a 5-0 win.
The 18 consecutive outings sets an American League record and they are now just two games shy of matching the MLB record. The 1924 Philadelphia Phillies hold the Major League record at 20 games.
The game was delayed for 44 minutes due to rain in Baltimore and there was not much action to start as it was a pitcher’s duel through the first three innings. Kevin Gausman and Carlos Carrasco had nearly identical numbers before the Indians lead off the fourth with a Jason Kipnis walk and a Jose Ramirez single. Gausman was able to limit any damage with three quick outs to stay scoreless.
The bottom half of the fourth started with two quick outs for the Orioles, but singles by Jones and Trumbo gave Baltimore their first runner in scoring position. Mancini grounded out on a soft hit ball just in front of catcher Roberto Perez to end the fourth inning.
The Indians tacked on the first run of the game in the fifth on a RBI double off the bat of Perez. Zimmer showed off his speed after scoring from first following a single. Perez was the number nine hitter on the night and his single moved Gausman’s batting average to ninth hitter in the lineup to .444, the highest in the Majors.
Francisco Lindor made it a 3-0 ball game just moments later with a two-run shot for his 14th home run of the season.
Baltimore had no answer in the bottom half of the fifth as Carrasco continued to cruise through the Orioles lineup. He needed just 10 pitches to get out of the inning.
It was a better performance from Gausman, but he failed to record the quality start once he was pulled after 5 2/3 innings for Donnie Hart. Gausman finished the outing allowing three runs on six hits, two walks and the home run to Lindor. He is now 3-7 on the season.
Baltimore tried to make some noise in the bottom of the seventh with back-to-back-to-back singles off Carrasco from Trumbo, Mancini and Schoop. With the game in doubt, Indians manager Terry Francona called on former Oriole Andrew Miller with bases loaded and no outs.
Miller was masterful in working out of the seventh-inning jam for the Tribe. Joey Rickard came on to pinch hit for Kim and grounded out to get the force at home. Joseph was ruled out on a called strike three trying to check his swing and Ruben Tejada, pinch hitting for Janish, struck out swinging to end the threat.
The Orioles continued to get nothing against Miller in the eighth as he retired the side in order. He struck out three batters in his two innings of work.
Jonathan Schoop hit his 21st double of the season in the bottom of the ninth off Dan Otero to score Mancini for the Orioles only run of the night. He is now hitting .338 (25-for-74) with six doubles, seven home runs and 19 RBI in the month of June.
Quick notes:
Trey Mancini finished 3-for-4 to increase his batting average to .314. The rookie has hit safely in 15-of-19 games and sporting a .357 batting average in the month of June.
Hart was impressive in his first action since being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk, retiring the first six batters he faced before issuing a two-out walk to Chisenhall. He ended the night with 2 1/3 innings pitched, the one walk and a strikeout before making way for Miguel Castro. It was the longest outing of his MLB career.
Jose Ramirez became the fourth player in Indians club history to record at least two hits in nine straight games. He will break the club record if he should do so again tomorrow evening.
Wade Miley (3-4, 4.29 ERA) takes the mound for Baltimore tomorrow, while Mike Clevinger (2-3, 3.89 ERA) makes the start for the Indians in the final game of the four-game set. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05.
