Cedric Mullins Slugs 2 HRs, Drives in 3 as Orioles Top Red Sox 5-3

BOSTON (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles secured a 5-3 victory against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night, thanks to standout performances from Cedric Mullins and Albert Suárez.

Mullins showcased his power at the plate by hitting two home runs and driving in three runs, while Suárez demonstrated his skills on the mound by allowing only one run during six innings of play. This marked a significant win for the Orioles, who have struggled recently, winning only two of their last six games as they aim to chase down the American League East-leading New York Yankees.

Adley Rutschman also contributed to the scoreboard with a two-run single, highlighting the Orioles’ offensive capabilities. On the other side of the diamond, the Red Sox faced mounting pressure as they have lost seven out of their last eleven games, complicating their pursuit of Minnesota for the AL’s third wild-card spot.

Triston Casas and Masataka Yoshida each brought in runs for Boston with RBI doubles, but it wasn’t enough to narrow the score gap. Tyler O’Neill struggled at the plate, going 0 for 3 with three strikeouts, a stark contrast to his performance on Monday when he contributed two home runs to a team victory.

In the third inning, with Gunnar Henderson on first base after a walk, Mullins unleashed a powerful cutter from Kutter Crawford (8-14) that sailed deep into the right-field stands, extending the Orioles’ lead to 3-0. This marked Mullins’ fifth career multi-homer game, the last occurrence dating back to June 19, 2021, against Toronto.

Suárez, rebounding from a disappointing outing last Wednesday, where he gave up six runs in just over four innings to the White Sox, shone on the mound by surrendering only four hits and two walks during his six innings of work. Following him, Seranthony Domínguez closed out the game successfully, earning his 10th save.

Boston managed to slice the deficit in the fourth inning when Casas hit a double off the iconic Green Monster, marking the first time the Red Sox scored against Suárez this season. Previously, he had shut them out in six innings during a match at Camden Yards on August 18.

Yoshida added another dimension to the game in the eighth inning by doubling off Yennier Cano, who subsequently balked in a run, which brought the score to 5-3. Despite the late push from the Red Sox, they were unable to overcome the Orioles’ lead.

Crawford faced a challenging night, suffering his fifth consecutive loss, as he yielded three runs and seven hits over 6 1/3 innings while racking up six strikeouts and only one walk. This has become an unfortunate pattern, as the Red Sox have scored just two runs during his last five starts.

Mullins’ first homer came in the first inning, a shot that barely cleared the Pesky Pole. Initially, right fielder Wilyer Abreu appeared poised to make the catch near the wall, but the ball drifted just out of reach and into the seats, estimated at a distance of 334 feet.

In a noteworthy defensive play, Abreu executed an impressive running catch to end an inning but fell to the ground afterward, showing the intensity of the game.

In terms of player health, Orioles’ infielder Jordan Westburg, who is recovering from a fractured right hand, expressed optimism about his recovery. He noted that he might soon be able to start taking batting practice, sharing his progress in gripping weights with more strength.

On the Red Sox side, manager Alex Cora opted to reinstate Casas in the lineup after he had been sat in the previous game against a left-handed starting pitcher.

Looking ahead, the Orioles are set to continue the series with right-hand pitcher Dean Kremer (7-9, 4.27 ERA) taking the mound against Red Sox right-hander Nick Pivetta (5-10, 4.38).