Jackson Holliday hit a second-inning grand slam and the Baltimore Orioles won for the third time in their last eight games, defeating the visiting Cleveland Guardians 9-1 on Wednesday night.
Ramon Laureano, a newcomer to the Orioles this year, and Ryan O’Hearn also homered. Baltimore had more runs than hits (seven), pulling away in the eighth inning following some anxious moments.
Orioles starter Dean Kremer (2-2) worked 5 1/3 innings, giving up one run on four hits with a walk and two strikeouts.
Gabriel Arias homered for Cleveland, while teammates Daniel Schneemann, Carlos Santana and Jose Ramirez, who doubled, each had two hits.
Guardians starter Gavin Williams (1-1) lasted 6 2/3 innings, giving up just two singles other than Holliday’s big blow until Laureano’s solo homer with two outs in the seventh. He walked four and struck out four.
Bryan Baker, Gregory Soto, Yennier Cano and Keegan Akin pitched in relief for the Orioles.
O’Hearn was the lone Baltimore player with two hits.
Holliday’s second homer of the season came with one out in the second, with the shot barely clearing the wall in left field. He didn’t play in the series opener.
The Guardians got Arias’ leadoff blast in the third inning for his fourth long ball of the season.
Laureano’s homer was his first with Baltimore and his second hit in 17 at-bats this year.
In the eighth, the Guardians had runners at first and third with no outs and then loaded the bases with one out, but they didn’t score. The threat ended when Cano got a strikeout and coaxed Angel Martinez into grounding into a double play, leaving the score at 5-1.
O’Hearn gave the Orioles some insurance with a solo home run in the eighth off Triston McKenzie. Later in the frame, Heston Kjerstad provided a two-run single and Ramon Urias lofted a sacrifice fly.
Orioles outfielder Tyler O’Neill was scratched from the lineup with neck discomfort.
–Field Level Media
