Mateo returns to the Baltimore lineup and hits a 3-run homer to lead the Orioles over Atlanta 4-0

Tue, Jun 11, 2024
MLB News (AP)

BALTIMORE (AP) - Jorge Mateo hit a three-run homer in his first plate appearance after returning to the lineup, and Albert Suarez allowed four hits in 5 1/3 innings to lead the Baltimore Orioles to their fifth straight win, 4-0 over the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night.

Mateo was reinstated from the concussion injured list and played for the first time since he was hit in the head by teammate Cedric Mullins' bat in a freak accident at the on-deck circle in a June 2 game. He hit a drive into the Baltimore bullpen in the second inning off Max Fried (6-3).

Suarez (3-0) lowered his ERA to 1.61, and the Baltimore bullpen - which lost left-hander Danny Coulombe to the injured list before the game - kept Atlanta off the scoreboard.

The Braves wasted a leadoff triple by Michael Harris II in the first inning. Then with men on first and second in the top of the second, Sean Murphy hit a drive to left field that stayed in the park for a flyout thanks to the tall, deep wall in that part of Camden Yards. It would have been a homer in all 29 other ballparks, according to Statcast.

Mateo's 402-foot shot in the bottom of the inning went only 10 feet farther than Murphy's, but it was hit to left-center, where the wall juts in front of the bullpens.

RELATED COVERAGE

Corey Seager not in Rangers lineup for his 1st regular-season return to Dodger Stadium

Mariners scratch right-hander Bryan Woo from start against White Sox

Rays' Arozarena grounds out as pinch hitter after he was scratched with right hamstring tightness

Austin Hays had three hits, including an RBI single in the sixth.

Atlanta, which lost star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. for the rest of the season because of a knee injury, has dropped four straight. The six-time defending champions in the NL East, the Braves entered the night nine games behind division-leading Philadelphia. Both those teams face the Orioles this week in Baltimore.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Orioles: Coulombe went on the 15-day IL with left elbow inflammation. Baltimore recalled RHP Bryan Baker from Triple-A Norfolk to replace him in the bullpen. The Orioles also optioned INF/OF Connor Norby to Norfolk to make room for Mateo. ... LHP Cionel Perez was hit by Adam Duvall's comebacker in the eighth but stayed in the game.

UP NEXT

Orioles rookie Cade Povich (0-1) makes his second career start Wednesday night against Atlanta's Spencer Schwellenbach (0-2).

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb