BALTIMORE -- The night began triumphantly as Chase DeLauter announced his return to the Guardians' starting lineup with authority. But in the end, Wednesday brought whiplash after one of Cleveland’s worst single innings in recent memory.
And the Guardians left Baltimore with an ill-timed series loss in their continued push for the postseason.
DeLauter’s first-inning two-run homer -- in his return from a right wrist sprain that sidelined him the previous four games -- was merely a footnote in the Guardians’ 9-5 loss to the Orioles at Camden Yards. The O’s scored eight runs in the third inning to send starter Foster Griffin’s night up in flames.
It marked the most runs the Guardians surrendered in a single inning since May 13, 2022, when they allowed nine in the fifth inning of a 12-8 loss to the Twins. All eight were charged to Griffin. He allowed seven hits in the third and lasted just 2 1/3 innings in his shortest start of the season.
This series was a missed opportunity for the Guardians (74-73), even as they retained a one-game lead over the Blue Jays (73-74) for the final American League Wild Card spot. Cleveland had a chance to give itself some breathing room after Toronto lost its three-game series to the A’s in Sacramento.
Instead, the Guardians were unable to put away an Orioles team (71-76) that now sits just three games back of the final Wild Card spot. Cleveland fell to 2 1/2 games back of first place in the AL Central, pending the outcome of the White Sox contest against the Pirates.
Griffin, an All-Star with the Nationals this season whom the Guardians acquired before the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline, faced one over the minimum through two innings. His night unraveled in a hurry in the third. Nine of the Orioles’ first 10 batters reached against him on six singles, one double, on hit by pitch and one walk.
Leody Taveras’ RBI single, in his second at-bat of the inning, ended Griffin’s night.