BALTIMORE — Andrés Giménez hit a three-run homer, Zach Plesac had eight strikeouts over six innings and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Baltimore Orioles 3-2 on Sunday to win their first series at Camden Yards since 2018.
Giménez staked Cleveland to a 3-0 lead with a first-inning drive off lefty Dean Kremer (0-1) following a single and a walk. That proved to be enough of a cushion for Plesac and three relievers in a combined four-hitter.
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The Guardians took two of three from the Orioles and have won five of six overall. Prior to this series, Cleveland had lost four of its last six games in Baltimore while being outscored 51-18.
Plesac (2-4) gave up two runs and four hits with no walks to earn his first victory in seven starts since April 27. The right-hander allowed just one single before he hit Trey Mancini with a pitch to open the fourth and Ryan Mountcastle homered to straightaway center.
Baltimore failed to score after getting runners to second and third with no outs in the fifth and went hitless over the final four innings.
Emmanuel Clase worked the ninth for his ninth save.
Activated from the injured list before the game, Kremer returned from a left oblique strain to give up three runs, five hits and a walk over 4 1/3 innings in his season debut. Obtained in the July 2018 trade that sent Manny Machado to the Dodgers, Kremer is 1-9 over 13 career starts.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Guardians: C Austin Hedges, who strained his right quadriceps muscle on Friday, got a second straight day off after agreeing to the cautious approach broached by manager Terry Francona via a text message. "He said, 'You know what? I get it,'" Francona said. "He's doing OK, but I think it just makes sense to wait until tomorrow."
Orioles: Prized pitching prospect Grayson Rodriguez will be sidelined until at least September with a Grade 2 lat strain, general manager Mike Elias said. "This is an injury that we have a very, very high degree of confidence is going to heal and he'll be back to himself in no time," Elias said, "and at the very least, put himself in a position to join our rotation out of spring training." Rodriguez, a right-hander, is the top pitching prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline. He appeared on the verge of reaching the majors until sustaining the injury during Wednesday's start for Triple-A Norfolk.
UP NEXT
Guardians: RHP Cal Quantrill (2-3, 3.52 ERA) starts Monday night against Texas in the opener of a seven-game homestand.
Orioles: Following an off day Monday, the Orioles begin a two-game series against the Chicago Cubs, Baltimore has gone 0-6 against the Cubs since winning at Wrigley Field in 2008.