Cedric Mullins’ home-run robbery gives Orioles’ offense time to wake up in 3-1 win over Twins in 10 innings – The Denver Post

On Sunday, after Orioles center fielder Cedric Mullins ranged to his left and into Camden Yards’ outfield wall to rob Minnesota Twins designated hitter Byron Buxton of extra bases, starting pitcher Cole Irvin believed Mullins deserved a thank-you gift.

“I think I owe Ced a little something,” Irvin quipped.

That probably would not suffice for Friday night’s second act, when Mullins leaped in the bottom of the fourth inning at Target Field to deny Buxton what otherwise would have been a three-run home run off Irvin. Buxton slammed his helmet into the ground and put his hand on hips, then in the air, before tipping his helmet toward Mullins, the Gold Glove Award finalist shrugging with a smirk in response. The Georgia natives have trained together in the past, with Mullins describing them as “good friends.” He didn’t show it on that play.

“I have a feeling he’s going to be looking for me as soon as I walk out of here,” Mullins said. “Hate to do it to him, but that’s baseball.”

Irvin retired the next two Twins to keep the game scoreless, and Mullins produced the game’s first run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth. It did not stand as such, but the Orioles managed to open their final series before the All-Star break with a 3-1 victory in 10 innings, their third straight win after dropping six of seven games.

When Buxton launched his fastball toward center, Irvin had hope it was hit too high to have the necessary distance to clear the fence and would remain in play.

“Luckily, it did,” Irvin said, “because Ced caught it.

“If Ced doesn’t make that play, we don’t win the game.”

Mullins’ heroics meant the game was tight throughout, putting extra emphasis on a questionable ruling to end the Orioles’ half of the ninth. With two outs and no one on base, rookie Colton Cowser cued a grounder up the first base line. Twins closer Jhoan Duran fielded the ball and threw to first, but the effort hit Cowser, who was ruled out for interference despite appearing to run on the chalk of the base line the entire way to the bag.

Manager Brandon Hyde left the dugout for an explanation and was told Cowser’s left foot was inside the line, which is also where first base is. Hyde joked, “I don’t have any pictures to show anybody” of the play, referencing Washington Nationals manager Davey Martinez showing a print-out of a similar play that was ruled the opposite manner during a postgame news conference last month.

“It’s very, very tough to run outside the line with both feet,” Hyde said. “But that’s the way the rule’s written, and the bag’s on the inside. So that’s why everybody has such a beef about this whole thing because if you do hit a ball or bunt up the first base line, it’s really hard to stay on the outside of the line when the bag’s on the inside.”

The outcome meant, after Félix Bautista pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth, that Cowser was Baltimore’s automatic runner at second base. He quickly scored on Ramón Urías’ first-pitch double off Duran. Urías advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt on a 100 mph pitch by James McCann, who Hyde also credited for his defensive work at catcher. Out of the lineup the past two days with left Achilles tendon soreness, Aaron Hicks brought home Urías with a pinch-hit sacrifice fly, with Urías emphatically pumping his first after crossing home plate. Bautista returned for the bottom of the 10th to finish off the victory, stranding Minnesota’s automatic runner at third base.

Irvin, a left-hander acquired from the Oakland Athletics this offseason to provide dependability out of the rotation, authored his best start with the Orioles (52-35). He efficiently carried a shutout into the seventh inning, completing the sixth for the first time with Baltimore after doing so 36 times in 62 outings the past two seasons with Oakland. After retiring Buxton again to open the seventh, Irvin allowed a double to Kyle Farmer, only his third hit surrendered, but it ended his night after 84 pitches.

Right-hander Mike Baumann, a native of Minnesota, gave up a game-tying single to the first batter he faced, leaving Irvin with one run allowed in 6 1/3 innings. On the other side of Triple-A stints and relief outings, Irvin allowed three runs over 14 1/3 innings in his final three starts of the first half.

Hyde said the pitch to Farmer was the lone mistake Irvin made on the night, then corrected himself.

“Maybe that one to Buxton that Mullins brought back,” he said with a laugh. “Oh my god. That was incredible.”

Former Twins relievers Danny Coulombe and Yennier Cano, who have both emerged as key members of the Orioles’ bullpen, combined for four outs to get the game to the ninth. Through regulation, Baltimore’s offense was quiet a day after setting season highs with 14 runs and 20 hits. But Mullins’ catch afforded them wiggle room until the decisive 10th.

“Every time Buxton’s up in the box, for whatever reason, I was feeding him cookies,” Irvin said. “Luckily, I wasn’t hurt by it. Ced made an incredible play again for me, and I think he’s deserving of maybe a beverage on me.

“I can watch that play a few more times tonight and be happy about it.”

Orioles at Twins

Saturday, 2:10 p.m.

TV: MASN

Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM

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