By The Associated Press
BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Orioles took the luster off Mike Clevinger’s return from the injured list, scoring seven early runs off the right-hander Friday night in a 13-0 rout of the Cleveland Indians.
Chance Sisco homered and had a career-high five RBIs for the Orioles, who built an 8-0 lead in the second inning and cruised to only their second win in 15 games. With a victory today, struggling Baltimore will have its first winning streak since May 4-6 and capture its first series since April 22-24.
Like Clevenger, Baltimore starter John Means (7-4) was activated from the injured list (shoulder) to pitch in this game. Means, however, was far more successful: The lefty allowed one hit and one walk with five strikeouts in five innings.
After notching a total of 25 wins over the past two seasons, Clevinger (1-2) was making his fourth start of the season following two separate stints on the injured list with back and ankle problems. This appeared to be the perfect scenario for his return, given the plight of the Orioles and Clevinger’s 4-0 career record against them.
After walking the first batter he faced, Clevinger got two outs before Sisco hit a fastball far over the right-field wall — the 99th homer to reach Eutaw Street in the 27-year history of Camden Yards. Two walks and a two-run double by Hanser Alberto followed.
Clevinger gave up three more hits before being pulled in the second inning, and Anthony Santander greeted Tyler Olson with a two-run homer. That left Clevinger with this unsightly pitching line: 1 2/3 innings, seven runs, five hits and three walks.
After getting 10 wins in 13 games, the Indians managed only five hits in their sixth shutout loss of the season. Their most notable play came on defense, when center fielder Oscar Mercado made a leaping catch in the fourth inning to rob Sisco of a second home run.
Sisco rebounded to hit a two-run double during a four-run eighth that capped the Orioles’ most lopsided victory since May 13, 2018, against Tampa Bay.
∫ TRAINER’S ROOM: Indians: RHP Corey Kluber (broken arm) is finally playing catch after going on injured list on May 3. “He’s basically got to start over again, his throwing program,” Francona said. “But the fact that he’s throwing, the fact that it’s healing so well, it’s really good news.”
Orioles: OF DJ Stewart (ankle) is playing in the Gulf Coast League and will soon be ready to continue his rehab in the minors, manager Brandon Hyde said.
Marlins 6, Phillies 2
MIAMI — Brian Anderson drove in three runs with a double and his 11th homer, and Miami snapped Philadelphia’s four-game winning streak.
Last-place Miami beat Philadelphia for the fourth time in a row, including a three-game sweep last weekend.
Elieser Hernandez (1-2) allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings to earn his first win in 10 career starts. Four relievers combined to complete the four-hitter.
Vince Velasquez (2-5) hit his first career homer for Philadelphia but allowed four runs in 4 1/3 innings.
Miami’s Garrett Cooper had three hits, including two RBI singles, and hiked his average to .323. JT Riddle added his sixth homer.
Rangers 5, Rays 0
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Lance Lynn struck out 10 over eight innings of three-hit ball, and Texas beat Tampa Bay for its season-best sixth-consecutive win.
Lynn (10-4) allowed just one runner to reach third base. The right-hander held Tampa Bay without a hit from two outs in the second until Willy Adames opened the eighth with a double.
Jose Leclerc completed a three-hitter for the Rangers, who moved into a tie for the first AL wild card with the Rays at 46-36.
Texas took a 3-0 lead in the second on an RBI double by Rougned Odor and Ronald Guzman’s two-run double off Yonny Chirinos (7-4), who gave up four runs, five hits and four walks in six innings.
Blue Jays 6, Royals 2
TORONTO — Eric Sogard hit a tiebreaking home run in the seventh inning, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. homered twice for his second straight multi-homer game and Toronto snapped a three-game losing streak with a win over Kansas City.
Randal Grichuk added a two-run homer for Toronto, which won its second straight at home following a seven-game losing streak.
Gurriel Jr. hit a two-run homer off Danny Duffy in the sixth and added a solo shot off Wily Peralta in the eighth, the fourth multi-homer game of his career. Gurriel Jr. also homered twice in Wednesday’s loss at Yankee Stadium. He’s the fourth player in Blue Jays’ history with consecutive multi-homer games.
Right-hander Daniel Hudson (4-2) pitched 1 1/3 innings for the win.
Duffy allowed three runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings. He’s winless in seven starts since beating the Los Angeles Angels on May 19.
The Royals have lost five of seven.
Nationals 3, Tigers 1
DETROIT — Anibal Sanchez beat his former team for his third win in four starts, Juan Soto hit his 14th home run of the season and Washington beat Detroit.
Sanchez (4-6) allowed six hits and struck out eight in six innings. Fernando Rodney pitched the ninth and recorded his first save of the season.
Daniel Norris (2-7) was removed the game after five innings with a cut on his pitching thumb.
Nick Castellanos accounted for Detroit’s run in the bottom of the fifth with his eighth homer of the season.
The Nationals have won four straight and at 41-40 moved above .500 for the first time since they were 9-8 on April 18.
The Tigers have lost eight in a row.
Reds 6, Cubs 3
CINCINNATI — Cole Hamels left after only one inning because of discomfort in his side and Cincinnati snapped a four-game skid by beating Chicago.
The Cubs already were missing Kyle Hendricks, sidelined by a sore pitching shoulder. Hamels (6-3) exited after throwing 22 pitches and giving up a walk, two hits and a run in the first inning.
Sonny Gray (4-5) pitched shutout ball into the seventh before giving up Jason Heyward’s two-run homer . Michael Lorenzen pitched out of the two-on threat in the eighth and got the last five outs for his fifth save in six chances.
Joey Votto had a season-high four singles and drove in a run. His third single off Mike Montgomery gave him 1,800 career hits. Phillip Ervin added a homer and a double.
