BALTIMORE — The Cincinnati Reds surged to an 8-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, driven by a trio of home runs and a dominant outing from starting pitcher Andrew Abbott. The Reds’ offense erupted for 11 hits, while their pitching limited the Orioles to just four, securing a convincing victory in the series opener.
The Reds (10-10, 3rd NL Central) broke open a close game with a three-run third inning and a four-run fourth against Orioles starter Cade Povich (0-2). Elly De La Cruz ignited the third with a three-run homer, his fourth of the season, scoring Matt McLain and Jonathan Dunn. In the fourth, Jeimer Candelario led off with a solo shot, his second of the year, followed by McLain’s three-run homer, his fourth, which chased Povich from the game. Povich struggled, allowing seven earned runs on six hits and five walks over 3.1 innings, with his ERA climbing to 6.38.
Abbott (2-0) delivered a strong performance for Cincinnati, pitching six innings and allowing one run on two hits while striking out 11. His lone blemish was a solo home run by Cedric Mullins in the second inning. Abbott’s 93 pitches, 56 for strikes, showcased his command, as noted in a recent MLB.com analysis of his rising stock among young pitchers. Scott Barlow allowed two runs in the eighth on a Heston Kjerstad two-run homer, and Alexis Díaz closed out the ninth with a scoreless frame.
The Orioles (8-11, 4th AL East) struggled offensively, managing only four hits. Mullins’ homer, his fifth of the season, gave Baltimore an early 1-0 lead, but the Reds’ pitching stifled further threats. Kjerstad added a two-run shot in the eighth, his third of the year, but it wasn’t enough to spark a comeback. Baltimore’s lone error, a throwing miscue by Jorge Mateo, contributed to an unearned run for Cincinnati.
Cincinnati’s offense was balanced, with Jose Trevino leading the way, going 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Santiago Espinal added a 2-for-3 performance, including a double, while De La Cruz and McLain each drove in three runs. The Reds capitalized on scoring opportunities, going 4-for-13 with runners in scoring position, though they left nine runners on base.
Baltimore’s bullpen provided some relief after Povich’s exit. Scott Blewett pitched 2.2 innings, allowing one unearned run, while Matt Bowman and Cionel Pérez combined for three scoreless innings. However, the Orioles’ offense couldn’t solve Cincinnati’s pitching, leaving just two runners on base and going 0-for-1 with runners in scoring position.
The game, attended by 42,587 fans, was played under partly cloudy skies with a temperature of 72 degrees and a 14-mph wind blowing out to left field. Umpires included Junior Valentine (home plate), Marvin Hudson (first base), Tripp Gibson (second base), and Ryan Blakney (third base). The contest lasted 2 hours and 42 minutes.
The Reds and Orioles continue their series on Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. ET. Cincinnati’s early-season power surge, highlighted by 10 home runs in their last five games, positions them as a formidable opponent as the series progresses. Baltimore, meanwhile, will look to regroup and leverage their home-field advantage to even the series.
