CINCINNATI (AP) — Cedric Mullins hit a tiebreaking, two-run single in a four-run ninth inning, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the payroll-cutting Cincinnati Reds 6-2 Friday night to move two games over .500 for the first time since April 2021.
Baltimore had not been two games over since it was 4-2 last year. The Orioles, 37-25 following a 14-24 start, are two games over after the All-Star break for the first time since September 2017. Baltimore is 16-7 in July, assured of consecutive winning months for the first times since May and June 2016.
“Minor gave us fits. We didn’t have good at bats the first six innings,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “It starts with a walk. We’re down 2-0. Kyle goes five and they don’t score the rest of the game. Our bullpen has been great a keeping the score where it is.”
Ramón Urías walked against Buck Farmer (0-1) leading off the ninth, Rougned Oder doubled and Mullins grounded a first-pitch changeup up the middle and into center field for a 4-2 lead.
Trey Mancini followed with a potential double-play grounder only for the ball to hit second base and bound over the glove of second baseman Jonathan India for an RBI single. Ryan Mountcastle followed with a sacrifice fly.
Dauri Moreta hit Anthony Santander, who had three hits, with a pitch in the ninth. Santander took a few steps toward the moind and stared as benches and bullpens cleared. But order was quickly restored.
Santander thought Moreta was upset Santander called time late.
“I wasn’t really taking a step forward,” Santander said through an interpreter. “I just wanted to let him know it was unintentional and let him know how I felt. Sometimes pitchers take offense to calling time so close to the pitch being thrown. I get it. They might get hurt, but at the same time you can’t…
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