Orioles baffled by Indians’ Bieber; Ynoa pitches well; Mussina throws out first pitch

BALTIMORE—After two lopsided shutouts and 26 runs in the past two days, the Orioles had no chance against Shane Bieber on Sunday.

The Cleveland Indians’ right-hander, who threw a complete-game shutout against the Orioles on May 19, baffled them for eight innings on Sunday.

Bieber gave up just three hits and struck out 11 without walking a batter in the Orioles’ 2-0 loss to the Indians.

“Obviously, we have a real hard time with him,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “He’s really impressive. A couple of really good breaking balls we had a tough time staying off of. A fastball that he locates that has a lot of hop to it. He knows how to pitch. We didn’t square many balls up in the two games that he pitched.”

The Indians’ Carlos Santana drove in both runs, on singles in the third and seventh.

After Bieber threw 111 pitches, Cleveland closer Brad Hand loaded the base in the ninth on singles to Jonathan Villar and Trey Mancini and a walk to Chance Sisco, but he struck out Anthony Santander to end the game.

Gabriel Ynoa allowed a run on six hits in 5 1/3 innings. Ynoa is 0-6.

“I thought that was his best start,” Hyde said. “He threw the ball great. Had his velo ticking back up, threw some really good changeups to mainly a left-handed lineup. Did a really nice job pitching in and out, using his changeup. Lot of groundballs, threw strikes, did a great job.”

Ynoa knew he’d have a hard time against Bieber.

“You concentrate more definitely when you see the opposing pitcher having the performance that he was having,”  Ynoa said through a translator. “You try to do the best that you can and hopefully beat him, also.”

The Orioles struck out 14 times.

The Orioles did not allow a home run for the first time in a three-game series since July 31-August 2, 2017.

After the game, the Orioles optioned left-hander Tanner Scott to Triple-A Norfolk to make room for Monday’s starting pitcher.

Lucas improving: Pitcher Josh Lucas, who has been on the 10-day injured list since June 14, says he’s ready to be activated, and doesn’t need a rehab assignment.

“He’s very close,” Hyde said. “He threw a side [session] yesterday. It went well. We’re kind of monitoring it day-to-day, but he should be close to being activated at some point.”

More signings: The Orioles signed three draft picks, Stanford first baseman Andrew Daschbach, selected in the 11^th round; University of Pittsburgh right-handed pitcher Dan Hammer (13); and right-handed pitcher Houston Roth (29) from the University of Mississippi.

They’ve signed their first 33 picks and 35 of 41 overall.

Mussina throws out first pitch: Mike Mussina, who’ll enter the Hall of Fame on July 21, threw out the first pitch to Hyde.

Mussina will be going into the Hall without a logo on his cap, a decision that displeased a number of Orioles and New York Yankees fans.

“I only thought about it for 15 minutes,” Mussina said. “I couldn’t decide between the two organizations. One got my career started. One put me on a huge stage for a lot of years. I wouldn’t be going to Cooperstown without either one of them.”

The Hall of Fame makes the final call but agreed with Mussina’s decision.

“The Baltimore Orioles will always be the first team that gave me a chance,” Mussina said. “They put me out there, and said, ‘Kid, do what you can do,’ and I stayed out there for 10 years.”

Mussina  coaches his children in school but doubts that he’ll return to the major leagues in any position.

“I doubt I’ll ever get involved up here again,” Mussina said. “I spent my time here. I did my thing, and it’s been 11 years now, and I’m really good with where I’m at.”