CLEVELAND (AP) — Kyle Bradish limited Cleveland to two harmless singles over seven innings, while Cedric Mullens homered on Shane Bieber’s first pitch, as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Guardians 3-0 Thursday night. .
Bradish (3-5) delivered his second straight dominant performance. He hasn’t allowed a run for 15 straight innings after going more than three months without a win.
The right was in trouble only once but he solved them. He gave up a pair of walks in the third inning before striking out Amed Rosario and retiring fellow Dominican Jose Ramirez on a routine fly ball to left field.
Cuban Cionel Pérez did a perfect job in the eighth inning and Dominican Félix Bautista finished the job with two hits to reach 11 saves.
The Orioles, who came in two games out of the final wild-card spot in the playoffs, won two of three games in this series. Cleveland’s lead atop the American League Central Division was cut to one game over Minnesota, which was bye for the day.
Mullens had the first of three Baltimore homers off Bieber (8-8), who struck out 11 in seven innings but couldn’t keep the ball out of the park.
Anthony Santander and Ryan Mountcastle also homered for Baltimore.
For the Orioles, the Venezuelans Santander 4-1 with a run scored and an RBI, Jesús Aguilar 4-0, Rougned Odor 4-2. The Mexican Ramón Urías 3-1.
For the Guardians, the Dominicans Rosario 4-0, Ramírez 3-1, Omar González 4-0. The Venezuelan Andrés Giménez 3-1.