Global Courant
Andrew Abbott has been quite an asset to a Cincinnati team that was starved of pitchers.
Abbott was again impressive on the mound, and Matt McLain and TJ Friedl both homered to lift the Reds to a 3-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday-evening. McLain also hit an RBI double for the Reds, who recovered from a 10-3 loss on Monday night. Cincinnati had dropped three in a row on a 12-game winning streak.
“You want to get back on the winning track,” said manager David Bell, whose team took back control of NL Central from Milwaukee. “We still feel good about the way we play, but it’s all about winning games.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS REPORT ON FOXNEWS.COM
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Andrew Abbott throws a pitch to the Baltimore Orioles in the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, June 27, 2023, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Rain was a factor for a second consecutive night. The game was interrupted for 1 hour and 43 minutes after the seventh inning.
While they’ve been playing well lately, the Reds have one of the worst ERAs in baseball. Abbott (4-0) has done his part to improve that. He gave up a run and two hits in six innings in his fifth career start on Tuesday. This outing actually increased his ERA slightly to 1.21. The rookie lefty struckout eight batters with three walks.
“Just go out and do your job the best you can every day,” Abbott said.
Lucas Sims threw a scoreless seventh despite two walks and a hit by pitch. Buck Farmer worked the eighth and Alexis Díaz threw a hitless ninth for his 22nd save in 22 chances. Díaz converted 27 straight chances, the longest active streak in the majors.
He is also one shy of Rob Dibble’s club-record 23 consecutive saves to start a season in 1991.
DODGERS’ JD MARTINEZ HAS 299TH, 300TH CAREER RUNS HOME IN WIN OVER ROCKIES
Cincinnati Reds third baseman Elly De La Cruz waits for a pitch to the Baltimore Orioles in the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, June 27, 2023, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
The Orioles put two men on the field in the ninth. Ryan O’Hearn was hit by a pitch, then he picked up second in what seemed like defensive indifference until he turned and walked back to first, apparently thinking the ball had been thrown out.
The Reds had a chance to take out O’Hearn for the last out while between bases, but after realizing his mistake and trying to get back to second, Díaz threw wildly to second and he was safe. The play was scored as a swipe on steal and foul on Díaz.
After a walk to Adam Frazier, Austin Hays lined out to center to end the game.
Tyler Wells (6-4) gave up two runs and four hits in six innings. He struckout seven batters with one walk.
The Orioles led 1-0 on a sacrifice fly in the second inning by Ryan McKenna. McLain’s double tied the score in the fourth, and he gave the Reds the lead two innings later with a drive to center right. Friedl added a solo shot of his own in the eighth.
GUARDIANS MANAGER TERRY FRANCONA MISSING MATCH AGAINST ROYALS DUE TO MEDICAL TESTING PRECAUTIONS: REPORT
Baltimore Orioles Aaron Hicks scores from third base on a sacrifice fly by Ryan McKenna against the Cincinnati Reds in the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, June 27, 2023, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Second baseman Jonathan India made two great plays in the field, a catch of Anthony Santander’s shallow catch in the sixth and a swinging catch-and-tag to catch Cedric Mullins stealing after he walked to open the Baltimore seventh.
“Lucas got a scoreless inning, but it wasn’t the easiest inning,” said Bell. “That particular play was a big part of it.”
MOVE SCHEDULE
Cincinnati named RHP Luke Wong after he made his big league-debut on Monday. The Reds selected RHP Alec Mills from Triple-A Louisville to contract.
TRAINERS ROOM
Orioles: Hays stumbled around a bit after running into the wall while trying to make a catch on foul ground in left field in the ninth inning. He stayed in the game.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Clouds roll over Oriole Park at Camden Yards in the sixth inning of a baseball game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Cincinnati Reds, Tuesday, June 27, 2023, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
NEXT ONE
Baltimore’s Kyle Gibson (8-5) takes on Luke Weaver (1-2) of the Reds in the series finale on Wednesday night. Weaver has allowed 23 runs in 22 1/3 innings over his last five starts, but Cincinnati has won each of those games.
