Reds Score 24 Runs in Rout of Orioles

The Cincinnati Reds and Orioles were scoreless after one inning in their game at Baltimore on April 20th. They were tied 1-1 after two innings. Then the floodgates opened as the Reds’ bats came alive. Cincinnati scored seven runs in the third, two each in the 4th and 5th, three in the seventh, five in the eighth and four in the ninth on the way to a 24-2 romp over the Orioles.

All the runs were earned, and the Reds had 25 hits. Charlie Morton started for the Orioles, and allowed seven runs in 2 1/3 innings. The 41 year old righthander signed a one year, $15 million contract in the off season. He’s now 0-5 with a 10.89 ERA, and it’s reasonable to assume he may be finished. A pair of relievers allowed eight more runs before the Orioles resorted to position players to finish. They weren’t any better, but then they aren’t expected to be. Shortstop Jorge Mateo allowed five runs in his inning of work, and catcher Gary Sanchez allowed the last four. The Orioles team ERA fell to a major league worst 5.43 after this debacle.

The Reds had home runs from Elly De La Cruz, Noelvi Marte, and Austin Wynns. Marte, the third baseman, and Wynns, the catcher, were the eight and nine hitters in the batting order, and each had a career day. Marte was five for seven with a homer, two doubles, three runs scored, and seven RBIs. Wynns was six for seven, with two runs scored, a home run, and six RBIs.

The Reds (11-11) took two of three in the series. They open a three game set at Miami on the 21st. The Orioles (9-12) will be at Washington for three starting on the 22nd.