Orioles open crucial homestand with win
Cedric Mullins helped Baltimore to another big offensive night as the Orioles began perhaps their most important week of the regular season.
Mullins hit a grand slam in the fifth inning, and the Orioles beat the St. Louis Cardinals 11-5 to start a crucial homestand Monday night.
Baltimore remained three games ahead of Tampa Bay atop the AL East, and the Orioles will host the Rays for a four-game series after St. Louis leaves.
No matter what happens in the division, Baltimore is almost certain to be in the postseason.
“I think the excitement kind of crept in, probably a full month ago,” Mullins said.
Baltimore trailed 5-4 when Mullins hit a drive to right off reliever Andre Pallante, who had just replaced starter Dakota Hudson (6-2).
The Orioles withstood a shaky outing from Dean Kremer, who allowed five runs in 4 ⅓ innings. D.L. Hall (1-0) won in relief.
Gunnar Henderson also homered for Baltimore. He and Aaron Hicks each had three hits. The Orioles scored at least 10 runs for the fourth time in five games.
The Orioles have now defeated every other major league team at least once in 2023. Toronto is the only other team that’s done that, according to Sportradar.
Down 5-3, the Orioles began their decisive rally in the fifth thanks to two of their biggest stars: Adley Rutschman and Henderson both singled. One out later, Ryan O’Hearn doubled home a run, and Hudson was pulled after walking Ryan Mountcastle to load the bases.
Mullins’ 14th home run of the year put Baltimore ahead, and Henderson added a solo shot an inning later.
Nationals 6, Pirates 2: CJ Abrams homered twice, Patrick Corbin pitched into the seventh inning and Washington won in Pittsburgh.
Abrams hit a two-run shot to right-center against Andre Jackson (1-3) in the third inning. He drove a fastball from Cody Bolton over the 21-foot-high Clemente Wall in right in the seventh for his first career multihomer game.
Corbin allowed two runs and five hits in 6 ⅔ innings to reach 10 wins for the first time since 2019.