Tag Archives: Cedric Mullins

Kyle Gibson had a rough first inning this evening for the Baltimore Orioles. He threw in excess of 30 pitches, and seemed to suffer from control issues. However Gibson got things together quickly, pitching the Birds to a solid victory. Gibson’s line: 6.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 4 K.

Gibson surrendered his lone run on an RBI-triple by Laureano in the first inning. A triple that was aided by Ryan McKenna bobbling the ball in right field. But a triple none the less. The good news is that the O’s didn’t trail for long. Ryan Mountcastle’s two-run homer in the last of the first gave the Birds the lead at 2-1.

Austin Hays had an outstanding game. He scalded several balls in his at-bats, making great contact. He sent a solo homer into the stands on the sixth, giving the Birds a 4-1 lead. Ramon Urias would get Hays home after a double in the eighth with an RBI-single. This closed out a 5-1 Orioles’ victory.

However, a pall hung over the end of the game. Cedric Mullins was rung up on a pitch that appeared to be outside in the seventh inning. (A strike three that ended the inning.) He voice what appeared to be some very mild displeasure. As he walked back to the dugout, he was ejected by home plate umpire Malachi Moore.

Manager Brandon Hyde immediately came out to defend his center fielder, and after a heated argument HE was ejected. Also by Moore.

To be clear, Cedric Mullins never says anything to umpires. And while he was obviously displeased with the call, he didn’t appear to say much this time around also. If you haven’t seen the replay, quite frankly it’s UGLY. Mullins said nothing. And he was tossed. As was Hyde for protecting his player.

This sort of thing is the poster child for robot umpires. Moore’s strike zone was atrocious the entire game. That doesn’t mean it was bad. But instead it was more “inconsistent” than anything else. And that’s what ticks players off; when you called said pitch a strike last inning but you call it a ball now. You have to be uniform, and Moore was far from it tonight.

Robotic umpires would fox that issue. But at what cost? The human element – that’s the “cost.” I’m of the mindset that it’s not worth losing that in games. This doesn’t mean that umpires don’t need to work on their consistency. Because they do. But I wouldn’t want to get further and further away from the human element.

Here’s the other thing; you still would need a home plate ump. Someone would have to operate the machine. Furthermore, you’d still need an umpire to call out and safe at home plate. So you may as well have the guy calling balls and strikes. However antics like what Moore pulled tonight don’t make it easy to push to keep umpires calling balls and strikes.

The series continues tonight at Camden Yards. Grayson Rodriguez gets the start for the O’s (his first at home), and he’ll be opposed by Oakland’s Kyle Muller. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.

Cole Irvin had some struggles in his first start for the Baltimore Orioles this afternoon at Fenway. It’s important to note that neither wins nor losses are the fault of one guy. It’s a team effort. However Boston jumped on Irvin early and often this afternoon. Irvin’s line: 4.0 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 2 BB, 4 K.

If anything, one could argue that Irvin pitched to contact too much in the game. And Boston hitters happily obliged by swinging away. They loaded the bases in the last of the first, however Irvin limited the damage by allowing only an RBI-groundout to Yoshida. However Hernandez smacked a solohomer an inning later, and Verdugo an RBI-double in the third. And the Birds trailed 3-0.

However the Orioles also fought back. Adam Frazier smacked a two-run homer in the fifth inning, cutting the lead to 3-2. In the immediate aftermath, Cedrick Mullins sent a solo shot into the stands, tying the game at three. However Boston wasn’t to be outdone in that fifth inning – they put three more runs across in the bottom.

Cedric Mullins’ two-RBI single in the seventh brought the Orioles back to within one. However in the seventh and eighth Boston would put three more across, nearly all of them the result of softly hit bloopers. And the Birds fell on this after Sunday afternoon at Fenway, 9-5.

Outfield defense has been an issue in this first series. The Oriole outfield botched another sure out this afternoon, resulting in runners on base. I’m of the opinion that those sorts of things will iron themselves out. But they’ve marred the first series.

Those last few Boston runs came off of bloop singles. And that can happen at times. It’s just frustrating in a sense, because it comes across like the opponent’s barely trying. But that’s part of baseball. You win some and you lose some.

The O’s now head to Texas to open a series tomorrow evening at Globe Life Field. Kyle Bradish gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Texas’ Jon Gray. Game time is set for just after 8 PM.

A rain delay in the third inning simply delayed the inevitable for the Baltimore Orioles last night at Fenway Park. Jordan Lyles got the start, but only lasted two innings. Understandable given the rain delay. Lyles’ line: 2.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 0 K.

This game and this series of course was expected to be meaningful. However most people saw it as being meaningful from Boston’s perspective. Boston was eliminated from postseason contention on Sunday. However the game was meaningful. It was just the Orioles who had a shot at the playoffs.

And the Birds didn’t disappoint. Cedric Mullins’ solo homer in the first gave them a 1-0 lead. Jorge Mateo’s RBI-double extended that to 2-0 in the second. Mullins came back to the plate later in the inning, and smacked a two-RBI triple. Mullins would later score on a throwing error, and the Birds led 5-0.

Prior to the rain delay Boston would narrow that lead to 5-2. But once play resumed the O’s kept the pressure on. Kyle Stowers’ RBI-triple in the third ran the lead to 6-2, although Boston would put two on the board and narrow it to 6-5. A Roughned Odor RBI-single would extend the lead to 7-5 in the fifth.

When the smoked cleared in this game, the Orioles has outlasted the BoSox, 14-8. They kept putting the pressure on, and kept putting runs home. They now sit 3.5 games behind Seattle for the final playoff spot.

The series continues tonight at Fenway Park. Kyle Bradish gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Michael Wacha. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Austin Voth didn’t surrender even a hit in tonight’s game for the Baltimore Orioles – that is until the sixth inning. And that came after a lengthy delay while manager Brandon Hyde argued with umpires about a call where he felt the O’s got hosed. Voth’s line: 5.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K.

But winning this game was more about getting guys on base and then getting them in than it was anything else. The Orioles put 19 hits on the board, a season high. And it started with Adley Rutschman’s solo homer in the first.

Jorge Mateo’s RBI-double in the second extended the lead to 2-0. Rutschman would come up again in the fifth, netting the Birds a run on a sac fly-RBI. And that’s part of the story of this game; the O’s just kind of kept talking runs on.

However the top of the sixth brought some controversy, which could have changed the game. With a runner on second and nobody out, Terrin Vavra hit a swinging bunt back to the pitcher, who threw wide of first base. This allowed a run to score. However the umpires ruled that Vavra ran inside the base line, interfering with the throw, and he was called out.

The call was questionable at best. Brandon Hyde came out and argued for awhile, but it was to no avail. End of the day that’s a judgement call. As I said, it was questionable at best. But that was the sort of moment that’s capable of swaying a game. The O’s only led by three at that point…

…but instead, the Orioles used it as a launching point. A launching point to seal the win. The O’s put four runs on the board, taking a 7-0 lead following that moment in the sixth. This included RBI-singles by Jorge Mateo and Cedric Mullins.

Tampa did attempt a comeback. Arozarena smacked a two-run homer on the last of the sixth. But the O’s kept adding on. Odor added an RBI-single, in the seventh, and Cedric Mullins a solo homer in the eighth. Tampa’s Walks would wedge an RBI-double in between those two runs, and Ramon Urias would add a sac fly-RBI in the last of the eighth.

With their 10-3 win this evening, the Al’s have now taken some possession of the final wild card spot in the American League. If the season ended today, they’d be in the playoffs. The team they catapulted over? Tampa.

The series continues tomorrow at Tropicana Field. The Birds have yet to announce a starter, but whomever he is will be opposed by Tampa’s Shane Mclanahan. Game time is set for just after 4 PM.

The Baltimore Orioles yesterday commemorated 30 years of playing at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. This in front of a raucous crowd of 41K plus. Austin Voth took to the mound, and provided yet another good outing. Voth’s line: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 5 K.

Oriole Park at Camden Yards, THE BALLPARK THAT FOREVER CHANGED BASEBALL, opening in April of 1992. President George H.W. Bush was on hand to throw out the first pitch. For one reason or another, the O’s picked this weekend to commemorate the ballpark’s 30th anniversary. (The season obviously started late.) Needless to say, former players AND the fans showed up. So did the current Orioles.

The Orioles took the lead early when Terrin Vavra smacked an RBI-single in the last of the first inning. Jorge Mateo added one of his own an inning later, and the newly-acquired Brett Phillips tacked on an RBI-double. The O’s led 3-0 after two.

Pittsburgh would net two runs of their own in the top of the fourth on a two-run homer by Cruz, which quieted the crowd for a short period. But Ryan McKenna’s two-RBI double in the fifth got the party started again. Both teams would tack on an additional run, the O’s on a sac fly-RBI by Cedric Mullins in the last of the seventh.

On such a momentous occasion, the Orioles took care of business. They’ve won the series with Pittsburgh going into the finale this afternoon. And ALL appears right with the world.

The series concludes this afternoon at Camden Yards. Spencer Watkins gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Pittsburgh’s Bryce Wilson. Game time is set for just after 1:30 PM.

You could be the most ardent Baltimore Orioles’ hater out there, but you’d have no choice but to admit that they’ve turned things around in a fairly quick manner. In short, the rebuild’s working. And it’s working much quicker than previously thought. Kyle Bradish came off the IL last night and got the start in Cincinnati. Bradish’s line: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 7 K.

The lone two runs given up by Bradish came off a two-run homer in the last of the first by Votto. And for awhile it appeared that those two runs might stand up and give Cincinnati the win. But these Orioles have proven time and time again that they can come back. No matter what.

Cincinnati walked Trey Mancini in the sixth. And as I’ve said before, the old saying that nothing good ever happens after a walk only applies if you’re in the field. If you’re at bat, good things can happen after a walk. And that’s exactly what happened, as Anthony Santander smacked a two-run homer into the left field grandstand, tying the game at two.

And despite putting off several Cincinnati rally attempts, the O’s entered the ninth inning still tied at two. And it remained tied, at least until Cedric Mullins’ two-RBI single gave the Birds a 4-2 lead. On top of that, they immediately tacked on a couple of insurance runs, as Mancini added an RBI-single, and Ryan Mountcastle’s sac fly-RBI.

All in all, it amounted to a 6-2 Orioles’ win. And yes, another comeback win. These O’s seem to play better from behind.

At 51-49, they’ve now equaled last season’s win total. Which given how most they looked at times last year, is really remarkable. Heck, they looked almost just as lost at various points in April of this season. But they’re firing on all cylinders now, no matter how you spin it.

The series continues tonight at the Great American Ballpark. Dean Kremer gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Cincinnati’s Tyler Mahle. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

The Baltimore Orioles got a bit of a longer outing tonight out of Austin Voth. To be clear, a longer outing than they’re used to getting. Does this mean they’re stretching Voth out? Tough to say. But he pitched into the fifth inning tonight against Texas. Voth’s line: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 3 K.

This game was sort of wild from the beginning. Jorge Mateo’s RBI-single in the second gave the O’s a 1-0 lead. Cedric Mullins added a two-RBI double, and Trey Mancini an RBI-double of his own. When the smoke cleared the O’s led, 4-0.

But Texas snapped back in the fifth. They put three runs on the board, bringing them to within one at 4-3. Then Garver’s solo home run in the seventh tied the game. Whereas it looked like the O’s might cruise to victory…let’s just say that nothing’s easy in thugs world.

But they would get the lead back in the last of that seventh inning. Anthony Santander’s RBI-single gave the Birds a 5-4 lead. And it even looked like they had put some insurance runs up, as Ramon Urias’ two-RBI single gave them a three-run lead at 7-4.

But Texas came back again, and in one fatal swoop. Lowe’s three-run homer in the top of the eighth tied the game at seven. Then it was the Orioles’ turn – in the last of the eighth. Ryan McKenna picked an outstanding time for his first homer of the season, a solo shot. It gave the O’s an 8-7 lead.

And go figure, the teams swapped homers in the ninth. The game was re-tied at nine when Roughned Odor smacked a solo home run. And to extra innings we went! One might have labeled this as the game that wouldn’t die.

Almost true to form for this game, Texas threatened in the top of the tenth. They loaded the bases, but the Orioles pitched out of it. This put the O’s in a spot to once again take advantage of the ghost runner on second rule in extra innings. And of course the advantage that they also had (from the beginning) is that the home team bats last. And it was Cedric Mullins who played the hero last night, with an RBI-single to win the game for the O’s.

It goes down as one win. But this was a crazy game that went back and forth. Just when one team thought they had dealt a death blow to the other, something else would happen. Needless to say, it was about as entertaining of a game as you’re going to see in a given year.

The series concludes this evening at Camden Yards. Spencer Watkins gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Texas’ Glenn Otto. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

The Baltimore Orioles finished with a .500 road trip this afternoon in Toronto. That might sound average at best, but Kansas City and Toronto are two VERY CHALLENGING places for the Orioles to win over the course of the last few years. Tyler Wells got the start today, and pitched to a quality start at that. Wells’ line: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K.

The O’s never trailed in this one. Adley Rutschman set the tone for the game with a fielder’s choice-RBI in the first. But it was the third inning that made the game. Ryan Mountcastle’s two-RBI single extended the lead to 3-0. He would later score on Roughned Odor’s sac fly-RBI. However later in the inning Tyler Nevin and Ryan McKenna would smack RBI-doubles, and Jorge Mateo an RBI-single.

When the smoke cleared after the third inning, the O’s led 7-0. The competitive portion of the ballgame appeared to be over. The interesting thing was that the Orioles got a lot of guys both on and in today on doubles. Getting people on base in general is a good thing, but a double will automatically get someone in scoring position. And as was evidenced today, it should score someone, even from first base. Needless to say, doubles ruled the day regarding Oriole bats.

Toronto would get a run back in the fourth on a solo homer from Hernandez. Before the game ended they’d score once more, and the O’s would tack on three additional runs. Including a solo homer by Austin Hays. It’s also worth noting that Cedric Mullins was on base three times today.

Insurance runs weren’t really necessary today, but in general it’s good to see the Orioles adding to their lead late. The vast majority of the games are going to be close the rest of the way. If you can add runs on, it takes pressure off your bullpen. Which is never a bad thing.

The Orioles return home tomorrow night to take on Tampa at Camden Yards. Dean Kremer gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Tampa’s Shane Baz. Game time is set for just after 6 PM.

I’m going to assume that Baltimore Orioles’ manager Brandon Hyde had starter Kyle Bradish on a pitch count this evening. He was lifted with one put to go in order to qualify for a win – which seems odd to me. Bradish was my struggling, and it seemed like a foregone conclusion that he’d at least leave the game with a chance to be the winner. Bradish’s line: 4.2 4 H, 2 R, 5 BB, 5 K.

I do think that Bradish should have at least been allowed to try to get the final out. Because winning games is a big deal to pitchers. But I maintain that big league managers (such as Brandon Hyde) have forgotten more baseball than I’ll ever know. It’s tough for me to second guess their moves, especially in a winning effort by the team overall.

Bradish gave up a solo homer to Morel on the first pitch of the game. But that was the lone offensive highlight for Chicago. Cedric Mullins almost immediately tied the game at one with a solo homer in the last of the first. And unbeknownst to anyone, that’s as close as Chicago was going to get.

One inning later Jorge Mateo smacked a three-run homer, giving the Birds a 5-1 lead. Incidentally, we talk a lot about nothing good happening after a walk. Two Orioles were on base for Mateo’s at-bat due to being hit by a pitch, which is the same as a walk (more painful for the hitter, obviously). So that goes both ways; get guys on base, and good things can happen.

In the last of the third the O’s added two more on Austin Hays’ RBI-double, and Ryan Mountcastle’s sac fly-RBI. Chicago did attempt to rally, however. Contreras smacked a solo homer in the fifth, and Morel an RBI-triple in the sixth. But as I said above, 1-1 was the closest that they got tonight.

Ramon Urias would smack a solo homer in the last of the sixth for good measure. But this was an Oriole team that was determined to hang Chicago with a L this evening. This referencing of course the W and L flags that fly at Wrigley Field. The O’s got it done with timely hitting and good pitching – always a good combination. In what’s only a two-game set, this was a great start.

Going back to Hyde pulling Bradish, again I’m sure he has his reasons. It just seems odd to me that you wouldn’t let the guy get one more out to attempt to qualify for the win. But again, I find it tough to second guess a big league manager.

The series concludes tomorrow night at Camden Yards. Jordan Lyles gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Chicago’s Marcus Stroman. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Jordan Lyles took to the mound last night for the Baltimore Orioles in the series finale against Seattle. In effect, he was bled to death by paper cuts – a base hit here, a walk there. Those things add up in games if you give up enough of them. Lyles’ line: 5 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 3 K.

The Birds took the lead early. Austin Hays’ RBI-single in the first inning gave them a 1-0 lead. Ryan Mountcastle would follow later in the inning with an RBI-double, and the O’s led 2-0.

But they ran into trouble starting in the third. Winker’s RBI-single cut the lead in half at 2-1. With a runner at third later in the inning, Rodriguez would attempt to steal second. But Adley Rutschman’s errant throw allowed the runner to score, tying the game.

And while Rutschman was baseball’s top prospect for some time, he’s still a rookie and he’s still learning. You have to allow for those types of mistakes with a young catcher. But as much potential as Rutschman has, odds are he’ll use it as a learning experience and simply get better. Sure enough, he nailed a runner at second later in the game.

The O’s took the lead back however on Hays’ second RBI-single of the game in the bottom of that inning. But Seattle stormed back in the sixth, putting up three runs and taking a 6-3 lead. Ramon Urias’ RBI-double netted one back for the O’s in the last of the sixth inning, but the damage was done.

Or was it? Because Cedric Mullins smacked a two-RBI double later in the inning to tie the game back up at six. Win or lose, these Orioles battle. And another thing about them…they don’t get cheated at the plate. They complete their at-bats, and they don’t give in.

The score remained tied, and to extra innings we went. Seattle would win it on Toro’s run-scoring triple in the tenth. This of course given MLB’s extra-innings ghost runner rule, starting the inning with a runner on second base. So it goes as an unearned run.

Tough game to lose, but again you have to look at the fact that the O’s battled. The bigger loss for the team is that we found out before the game that top pitching prospect Grayson Rodriguez will be sidelined for much of the season with a strained lateral muscle. Tough pill to swallow for the organization, but you have to work through issues like this. Reliever Joey Krehbiel also exited the game in the sixth with shoulder discomfort, and will undergo tests today.

The Orioles will now open up a three-game set against the Cleveland Guardians this evening at Camden Yards. Bruce Zimmermann gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Cleveland’s Shane Bieber. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.