Cedric Mullins hits for cycle in Orioles' wet and wild 6-3 win (updated)

Cedric Mullins lined a triple into right-center field tonight in the fifth inning and the dry spell was over. The Orioles had their third hit, the first for extra bases. The new splash zone in section 86 was activated, with a hose dousing fans thirsting for a run.

They settled for the water.

Mullins would make certain that they got everything they wanted by the eighth inning. Heavy pouring of offense, the massive hydration with throats raw from cheering, a memory to cherish.

The center fielder hit a three-run homer to complete the cycle, just as the dugout urged him to do, in a 6-3 win over the Pirates before an announced crowd of 25,682.

Austin Hays was the last Orioles player to achieve the cycle, on June 22, 2022 against the Nationals. Mullins sent a changeup from Duane Underwood Jr. onto the flag court with two outs after Terrin Vavra, celebrating his 26th birthday, extended the inning with a walk.

"That's a highly anticipated moment right there," said Mullins, who flied out in the first and went single, triple, double and homer to get a water cooler emptied on him during his MASN walk-off interview. "It was huge for me to come through for the team. We needed some more runs going to that last inning. Just a big moment all around.

"You obviously know that you're a single swing away from the cycle, and at the same time you're trying to do your job. Drive some runs in. Everything fell in line."

The crowd gave Mullins another standing ovation as he jogged onto the field for the top of the ninth, alone with teammates staying back in the dugout. Mullins raised his cap in appreciation.

Similar to the honor bestowed upon him after he officially joined the 30/30 club in 2021.

"It's cool," he said. "I immediately knew as soon as the third out was made that they were doing that, and they sent me out there. Just having a great crowd out there and be able to share the moment with a lot of people was fun."

"Felt like he deserved that moment," Hays said. "It was a great atmosphere in the stadium, too. There were a lot of people out there that could share that moment with him. As fans, that's one of the coolest things you can see."

The Orioles stranded six runners through five innings against Pirates starter Johan Oviedo. They finally broke through in the sixth after Ryan Mountcastle’s leadoff triple, more H20 hijinks, and a wild pitch from reliever Dauri Moreta.

The tie evaporated in the seventh, with Connor Joe homering off reliever Danny Coulombe with one out, but Mullins and Adley Rutschman produced back-to-back doubles off left-hander José Hernández in the bottom half of the inning to set off more spritzing.

It would be a routine single, with no chaser, that gave the Orioles their final lead.

Mountcastle’s ground ball with two outs in the seventh eluded diving shortstop Rodolfo Castro and rolled in the outfield grass to score Rutschman.

"That just kind of shows our discipline as a team, and that grit that we have to be able to bounce back and make adjustments late in the game," Mullins said. "Sticking to the plans that we have against guys who are coming in late and being able to have success."

Hays led off the eighth with a single, Gunnar Henderson walked, Jorge Mateo grounded into a double play, Vavra walked and Mullins made history. He joined Brooks Robinson in 1960, Cal Ripken Jr. in 1984, Aubrey Huff in 2007, Felix Pie in 2009, Jonathan Villar in 2019 and Hays last summer.

"It was cool," Mullins said. "The first thing out of his mouth was, 'I can't believe we both did it.' Just a great moment all around for everybody."

"We were yelling before that inning started, 'Let's get Ced up,' and Vavra with the walk got him up," said manager Brandon Hyde, "and what a special night for Cedric."

"That was incredible," Hays said. "I was able to stand at third base and watch that ball go out. I know that was a really special moment for him. It was a special moment for me, too, to see him to get to complete that, especially with a homer, too. And he did it at home. Just can't script it any better than that."

The story is more touching when one considers the friendship that's developed between them over the years.

"We were roommates in the minor leagues, we've had our struggles, we've had successes together," Hays said. "To be able to share hitting for the cycle on the same team, the team that we were both drafted by and came up together in the minor leagues, it's very special. I'm really happy for him tonight."

Kyle Bradish was in the trainers' room getting the usual post-start treatment on his right arm when Mullins' ball cleared the out-of-town scoreboard.

"We went crazy in there," Bradish said.

Bradish held the Pirates to an unearned run in six innings for the rotation’s 10^th quality start and fourth in seven games. Mullins made a diving catch to rob Jack Suwinski leading off the seventh, and Joe launched a slider 410 feet at 110.4 mph off the bat for a 2-1 lead.

The Orioles flooded Pittsburgh’s bullpen and improved their record to 25-13 overall and 12-1 in series openers. Their 14 comeback wins are tied with the Red Sox for most in the majors. They have 50 since the start of 2022, third-most in the majors.

They’ve gone 11-4 against the Pirates since 2012, have won the first five series at Camden Yards and will try to secure a sixth Saturday night.

The Pirates have lost 10 of 11 games and scored three runs or fewer in that span for the first time since April 19-May 1, 2006.

Yennier Cano wasn't available, but Bryan Baker retired the side in order in the eighth with two strikeouts. Félix Bautista was warming, but Austin Voth entered after Mullins removed the save situation. Only temporarily.

Three straight batters reached with no outs in the ninth, including Suwinski on an RBI single, but Bautista recorded his ninth save by striking out three. No closer controversy here.

The Bird Bath next to the bullpen area was packed, the section sold out for the entire weekend series. “Mr. Splash” sprayed the group after Mullins dived into third base, received a thumbs-up from reliever Cionel Pérez, and got busy again on Mountcastle’s first triple since Sept. 27 in Boston and first extra-base hit since May 5.

The spray chart has a different meaning at Camden Yards.

"Mr. Splash was letting it fly out there," Hays said. "I know the fans were loving it. They were extra riled up tonight. Yeah, give that guy a raise out there. He was electric for the boys."

"A cycle's got to be like, the whole lower deck and the press box gets a bath," Hyde said. "It seemed like they enjoyed it out there. There's no doubt about it. Haysey said it was pretty wild in left field. Anything that brings excitement and energy to the ballpark, I think it's great."

Adam Frazier walked after the triple, Oviedo was removed, Hays struck out looking and Mountcastle raced home on a Moreta pitch that bounced in front of catcher Austin Hedges.

Bradish hasn’t allowed a run in the first inning in his six starts, but the defense let him down in the third.

At least it was unearned after a scoring change.

Ji Hwan Bae led off with a ground ball that Jorge Mateo charged and couldn’t release on his first attempt, the double clutch producing an infield hit. A wild pitch and grounder moved Bae to third base, and he scored when Mateo fielded Ke’Bryan Hayes’ grounder and fired the ball past Rutschman for an error.

Bryan Reynolds followed with a ground ball to Adam Frazier, who bobbled it and settled for the force out.

Mateo was flawless and at times dazzling after the miscues. He sprinted back and made a leaping grab of Bae’s line drive leading off the fifth and closed out the sixth by fielding Carlos Santana’s grounder, stepping on second base and turning the double play.

Bradish allowed three hits, walked one batter and tied his season high with six strikeouts – finishing off hitters with his fastball, sinker, curveball and slider. His ERA was lowered from 5.95 to 4.56 after his second appearance with no earned runs over six innings.

"Command-wise, shape-wise, mechanics, everything kind of synced up today," Bradish said.

Rutschman singled with one out in the first inning and Anthony Santander walked, but they were stranded. Mountcastle popped up in foul territory and Adam Frazier bounced to the mound.

Oviedo allowed 11 runs in the first inning before tonight for a 14.14 ERA.

Mountcastle struck out to end the third after Mullins singled and Santander walked again. The RBI drought would continue until the seventh.

Baker replaced Coulombe with two outs in the seventh and Rutschman threw out Bae trying to steal.

The Voth run in the ninth meant little beyond getting Bautista in the game, because Mullins provided some breathing room on a night dedicated to water works.

"He's one of the best defensive center fielders in the league and he also swings it," Bradish said. "He's just a complete-package player."

"What a great player," Hyde said. "Makes the diving catch in center field, just does everything tonight offensively. And cool for a Friday night crowd and the Bird Bath, too, to witness it.

"You look back at how far he's come as a player, it's unbelievable, and he showed you tonight why he's an All-Star type player and why he's so valuable to us and such a great player."

Asked what Mullins means to the team, Hays replied, "I don't even know if you can put words on it. He's our everyday center fielder, he's as good as they come in center, he hits for power, he's one of the best stolen-base threats in baseball. I mean, he's as valuable as anybody can be to any team.

"He's as prepared as anybody can be every day, to steal a bag, to hit a homer, to take his walks. He's an elite defender. He's grown to be one of the best at everything you can do."

* Jordan Westburg had a two-run triple tonight for Triple-A Norfolk and Colton Cowser singled in his first two at-bats. Cowser also had an RBI and a stolen base within the first three innings.

Lewin Díaz had three hits and two RBIs.

Dillon Tate retired all three batters he faced, striking out one. Ryan Watson tossed four scoreless innings with one hit allowed.

Garrett Stallings tossed five scoreless innings for Double-A Bowie, with two walks and five strikeouts. Heston Kjerstad, César Prieto and Zach Watson each had two hits.

High-A Aberdeen’s Alex Pham allowed one hit and struck out 11 batters in five scoreless innings. He walked one.

Single-A Delmarva’s Samuel Basallo went 3-for-5 with three RBIs. Douglas Hodo II doubled twice.