Orioles making rare visit to Cincinnati

The Orioles finally are able to play outside of their division, the schedule providing a three-game reprieve for the only time this month.

They just had to leave the American League to do it.

My last visit to Cincinnati coincided with the Orioles' most recent trip back in 2005. The Reds took two of three, but still couldn't reverse the outcome of the 1970 World Series.

The Orioles won the June 10 opener, 4-3, with Rodrigo Lopez going 5 1/3 innings to earn the victory and five relievers following him. B.J. Ryan picked up his 16th save by striking out the side in the ninth after Steve Kline, Todd Williams, John Parrish and Jorge Julio combined to hold the Reds to one run over 2 2/3 innings.

Ken Griffey Jr. homered off Parrish in the eighth.

How far back are we going here? David Newhan started in center field, Sammy Sosa was the right fielder, Geronimo Gil caught Lopez, and manager Lee Mazzilli sent up Eli Marrero and Ramon Nivar as pinch-hitters.

If you remember Nivar, you really are a true fan. The Orioles acquired him from the Rangers on March 30, 2005 for left-hander Matt Riley. He appeared in seven games, going 4-for-13, and never made it back to the majors.

The Reds roughed up Daniel Cabrera the following night and cruised to a 10-1 win. Cabrera was charged with seven runs in two-plus innings. Felipe Lopez and Adam Dunn homered.

How far back are we going here? James Baldwin relieved Cabrera and retired all nine batters he faced before Parrish surrendered three runs and walked three batters in one inning. Steve Reed tossed two scoreless innings.

Newhan replaced Melvin Mora at third base, Marrero started in center field and Sal Fasano was behind the plate.

(This team actually spent 62 days in first place. Should Mazzilli have been fired or thrown a parade?)

The Reds defeated the Orioles 10-6 in the rubber game, with Sidney Ponson allowing seven runs and 11 hits in six innings. Baldwin tossed another scoreless inning - I'm trying to imagine manager Buck Showalter using the same reliever the next night after a three-inning appearance - but Kline was charged with three runs without recording an out.

Sosa homered twice off Ramon Ortiz. Newhan started in center field again, batting second behind Brian Roberts, and Chris Gomez pinch-hit for Gil.

The Orioles swept the Reds in a three-game series at Camden Yards in 2014. They took the opener 5-4 despite Jay Bruce's grand slam off Darren O'Day in the eighth inning. Miguel Gonzalez recorded his first career shutout the following night.

The Orioles batted .305 in the series and Jonathan Schoop homered in each game.

Schoop is on another roll. He's 9-for-19 with three doubles, two home runs, five RBIs and five runs scored in his last five games to raise his average from .105 to .289.

Kevin Gausman will have to bat tonight with the Orioles losing their designated hitter to National League rules. He's 0-for-6 with a walk and five strikeouts.

Gausman has faced one member of the Reds, with Arismendy Alcantara going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.

Bronson Arroyo has posted a 9.90 ERA and 1.600 WHIP in two starts with the Reds this month. He's allowed 11 runs and 13 hits, including four home runs, in 10 innings.

Arroyo is 3-2 with a 5.82 ERA and 1.500 WHIP in 10 career appearances (six starts) versus the Orioles covering 38 2/3 innings. J.J. Hardy is 9-for-30 (.300) with five home runs.

Hardy's bat has heated up. In his last four games, he's gone 7-for-16 with two doubles, his first home run, four RBIs and three runs scored to raise his average from .105 to .257.

The Reds began yesterday ranked sixth in the majors with a .262 average, tied for fifth with 17 home runs and first in stolen bases with 13. The Orioles were 10th with a .250 average, fourth with 18 home runs and tied for 26th with three steals.

The Reds bullpen has been a surprise with a 2.65 ERA that ranked second in the National League and sixth in the majors. The Orioles bullpen has registered a 4.06 ERA that ranked 16th in the majors.