No sweep: O's blanked 2-0 by Indians in series finale

After the Orioles scored 26 runs with 14 extra-base hits in the first two games of this series, today they ran into Cleveland right-hander Shane Bieber. And just like last month in Cleveland, they couldn't get much going.

On May 19, the 24-year-old Indians pitcher recorded his first career shutout when he beat the Orioles. Today, in his 36th career start, he came up an inning short of his second.

The Orioles won a series but failed to complete a sweep as they lost 2-0 to Cleveland on a warm Sunday at Oriole Park. They fall to 24-59 and went 2-3 on the homestand that ended today.

In that game in May, Bieber pitched a five-hitter and fanned 15 with no walks on 107 pitches. Today, he was strong, but not quite as pitch efficient or dominant. But he threw eight innings of three-hit ball with no walks and 11 strikeouts. He threw 112 pitches and improves to 7-3 with an ERA of 3.54.

So in two 2019 starts against Baltimore, he's thrown 17 scoreless on eight hits (seven singles and a double) with no walks and 26 strikeouts.

O's right-hander Gabriel Ynoa, who had allowed 13 runs in 7 2/3 innings in his past two starts, today threw well but was just outdueled.

Cleveland took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third. Center fielder Oscar Mercado doubled to center with one out. Batting next, Carlos Santana singled to right to plate Mercado for the 1-0 lead. Santana, the American League starter at first base in the upcoming All-Star Game, drove in his 49th run.

It was also Cleveland's first run this weekend. The O's blanked Cleveland 13-0 both Friday and Saturday and held the Indians to 11 hits in those games with three walks to 18 strikeouts.

The lead doubled in the seventh when Santana's RBI single again scored a run for a 2-0 lead. Right-handed reliever Shawn Armstrong replace lefty Paul Fry with one out. Mercado doubled to right-center with two outs and scored on Santana's hit.

Ynoa had a strong game. He went 5 1/3 innings, allowing six hits and one run with one walk and three strikeouts. He falls to 0-6 with an ERA of 6.22 after his 83-pitch outing.

The Orioles loaded the bases with two outs in the last of the ninth, but Brad Hand struck out Anthony Santander to end it as Cleveland got the victory.

The Orioles now head on the road and will play in Florida against Tampa Bay before heading to Toronto before the All-Star break.