Surging Guardians down Orioles behind Logan Allen

Logan Allen held the Baltimore Orioles to two hits across 5 2/3 scoreless innings as the visiting Cleveland Guardians opened a three-game series with a 6-3 victory on Tuesday.

Steven Kwan hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs and Angel Martinez had three hits as the Guardians picked up their sixth win in the past seven games.

The Orioles lost for the fourth time in five games despite getting two hits apiece from Cedric Mullins, who homered, and Gunnar Henderson. Baltimore starter Charlie Morton (0-4) lasted five-plus innings, and he was charged with five runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out two.

Allen (1-1) walked two and struck out six to produce his first victory since last June 20. The two hits he permitted were singles by Mullins and Henderson. Allen had gone seven starts since posting a victory.

The Guardians used four relievers, capped by Emmanuel Clase working the ninth for his second save. He gave up a pinch-hit single to Ryan O'Hearn with one out but avoided other trouble. Cleveland pitchers combined to strike out 12 batters.

Gabriel Arias, Jose Ramirez and Kwan collected two hits apiece for Cleveland.

A sacrifice fly by Ramirez in the third inning opened the scoring. Bo Naylor's sacrifice fly in the fifth increased the lead to 2-0, and later in the inning, Kwan's third homer of the season doubled the advantage.

Morton has surrendered a total of four home runs across his past three starts.

Brayan Rocchio's sacrifice fly made it 5-0 in the sixth before Kwan added an RBI single.

Mullins got the Orioles on the board with a seventh-inning home run -- his fourth long ball of the season. Ryan Mountcastle's double and Gary Sanchez's single supplied two more runs in the eighth.

The game marked the Orioles debut for reliever Scott Blewett, who threw 1 1/3 shutout innings. He was claimed off waivers from the Minnesota Twins on Monday.

--Field Level Media