Cashner and three homers propel Orioles to 6-3 win over Mets

After being dominated by Boston over the weekend, the O’s got back in the win column by playing well in all facets of the game. Andrew Cashner and three home runs by O’s hitters led the way to a 6-3 victory over the Mets. The win snapped a five game losing streak and they’ve now won all three games they’ve played against the Mets.

The Orioles were trailing 2-1 after five innings when the Birdland Power Company reared its wonderful head. Adam Jones tied the game in the sixth, Chris Davis gave the Birds the lead in the seventh, and Tim Beckham provided two insurance runs in the eighth. It was the 43rd time when Jones and Davis have homered in the same game, the most by current teammates in all of baseball.

Andrew Cashner (4-10) started for the O’s and pitched very well. In seven innings he allowed two runs on five hits and three walks. He struck out three and threw 105 pitches. The strong outing lowered his ERA to 4.71 and it was the first time in his career that he’s beat the Mets.

Baltimore had an opportunity to pounce on Mets starter Jason Vargas in the first. Jonathan Villar blooped a single down the right field line to get the bottom of the first started, but was thrown out by Jose Bautista trying to extend it to a double. Renato Nunez followed that with a single, but was erased when Adam Jones grounded into a double play. The Orioles were retired in order by Vargas in the next two innings.

Through four innings, Cashner was as dominant as he’s been this season. He retired the first nine batters he faced before giving up a single in the fourth. In those four innings, he gave up one hit and struck out three. The most pitches he threw in any of those innings was 15.

The O’s broke through against Vargas in the fourth inning. Nunez worked a one-out walk and Jones followed that up with a double to left-center field. Mark Trumbo then delivered a sacrifice fly to plate the game’s first run. Trey Mancini followed that with a two-out walk, but Tim Beckham grounded out to strand Jones in scoring position.

The top of the fifth inning was quite predictable for anybody who has watched much 2018 Baltimore Orioles baseball. After being given a lead, Cashner walked his first batter of the game and then gave up a single to Todd Frazier. Austin Jackson then grounded into a 6-4-3 double play and Cashner was one out away from getting out of it. But after a Jose Bautista walk, Kevin Plawecki and Amed Rosario registered back to back RBI singles to give New York a 2-1 lead. Both batters Cashner walked in the inning came around to score with two down.

Baltimore got an opportunity with a runner in scoring position immediately after the Mets took the lead. Caleb Joseph singled with one out and was bunted to second base by Cedric Mullins. But Villar could not deliver the big hit.

Adam Jones delivered a big hit in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, he launched a line drive home run to left field to tie the game at two. It was his 13th homer of the season. Trumbo walked in an attempt to keep the rally going, but Mancini then bounced into an inning ending double play. The sixth was the last inning for Vargas, who turned in a nice outing. He gave up two runs and it was the first “quality start” he’s registered this season.

While the O’s couldn’t do much against Vargas, it didn’t take them long to get to New York’s bullpen. Bobby Wahl relieved Vargas and allowed Chris Davis to homer, his 15th of the season, with one out. It was the type of majestic home run that reminded us of Davis’ MVP-caliber seasons. After Joseph and Villar walked, Nunez singled off of Frazier’s glove at third base that allowed Joseph to come home from second to make the score 4-2.

Paul Fry came in to pitch the eighth inning after the offense took the lead and he did a great job. He retired the Mets in order, striking out one and lowering his ERA to 3.15.

Mychal Givens was warming for a save situation while the O’s were batting in the eighth, but that save situation went away. Tim Beckham followed up a Mancini single with his eighth home run of the year, giving the Birds a 6-2 lead. Davis singled and Mullins doubled (already his third) but they couldn’t score again.

Miguel Castro came into pitch the ninth and promptly re-created a save situation. He allowed a lead off triple to Brandon Nimmo and then threw wildly to first base on a Frazier dribbler, making the score 6-3. Givens then came on, quickly restored order, and collected his fourth save of the year. He retired the side with ease and threw seven of his eight pitches for strikes.

This quick two game series will wrap up tomorrow at 7:05. Buck Showalter announced earlier today that Dylan Bundy (7-10, 4.70) will take the mound for the O’s tomorrow. Zack Wheeler (7-6, 3.82) will pitch for the Mets.