Orioles barely avoid being no-hit in 4-2 loss to Guardians

Q: Who was the starting pitcher for the Guardians in the game against the Orioles?

Parker Messick was the starting pitcher for the Guardians.

Q: What was the final score of the Orioles vs. Guardians game on April 16, 2026?

The final score was 4-2 in favor of the Cleveland Guardians.

Q: How close was Parker Messick to throwing a no-hitter against the Orioles?

Parker Messick took a no-hitter into the ninth inning before allowing a hit.

Q: What significant play occurred in the ninth inning for the Orioles?

In the ninth inning, the Orioles managed to score two runs, avoiding a no-hitter.

CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 16: Starting pitcher Parker Messick #77 of the Cleveland Guardians tips his hat to the fans as he leaves the game during the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field on April 16, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Guardians defeated the Orioles 4-2. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images Guardians’ rookie Parker Messick took a no-hitter into the 9th inning, but couldn’t complete the first Cleveland no-hitter in 25 years, settling for a 4-2 victory over the Orioles, Thursday. Messick game into the bottom of the 9th with only two walks allowed and nine strikeouts on 106 pitches. He tried to sneak a cutter past Leody Taveras, only for the Orioles’ CF to slash to the ball back up the middle toward right-center, just out of the reach of 2B Juan Brito, for the Orioles first hit of the night. The relief of no longer having a 0 in the hit column helped spark a mini rally for Baltimore in the top of the 9th. Guardians’ manager Stephen Vogt left Messick in to face Blaze Alexander, who rewarded that decision by lining a single to center field. That forced Vogt to turn to closer , who allowed the O’s to further claw back in the game. worked a full count against Smith, and then loaded the bases when he line a 3-2 fastball into center. then came to the plate representing the tying run for Baltimore. The star SS just missed hitting a game-tying grand slam as well, getting just out in front of a Smith splitter and sending a 355-foot sac fly to deep right-center. then took his own chance at being the Orioles’ hero, attacking a first-pitch fastball and sending it ricocheting off the top of the wall in right field for an RBI double. Had Alonso’s sinking line drive been five feet higher and five feet to the left, it would’ve been a three-run homer that tied the game. Instead, he had to settle for putting the tying run at second with one out. As minds in Birdland began to turn to the Orioles magical no-hitter to walk-off winner Houdini act last September against the , stepped in as a pinch hitter. After fouling off some tough pitches from Smith, Cowser just got under a ball, sending a hard-hit shallow fly to left-center for the second out. That left the fate of the comeback to rookie , who sent a 108mph grounder screaming up the middle, only for Brito to grab it and toss the ball over to first for the final out. The fact that the O’s made Thursday’s loss look respectable came as a surprise after Messick left them utterly befuddled for eight innings. The stocky, 25-year-old lefty had Orioles swinging through fastballs, flailing and changeups and pounding easy groundouts to shortstop all night. The only really loud outs of the game on a Ward flyout in the 3rd that died right up against the centerfield fence, and a nifty snag in foul territory by in the 8th. The complete lack of good swings from the Orioles against Messick made it look like they could go 100 ABs against the southpaw and never sniff a hit. To say Orioles starter had a bad outing in Cleveland would probably be a little harsh, but he certainly paled in comparison to his counterpart, Messick. Coming off a lackluster outing against the Giants, Baz didn’t start the game with his best stuff against the Guardians. After punching out to start the game, he walked on five pitches and then made a *big* mistake to perennial All-Star Ramírez. Baz threw a first-pitch fastball down the heart of the plate, and the Guardians’ all-time leader in games played . The 26-year-old right-hander quickly but that blunder behind him, though. He got out of the first thanks to a diving stop by at second and a lineout to Pete Alonso. The Polar Bear then made a great snag on a grounder to start the 2nd, before Baz punched out on a foul-tipped cutter and ended the inning with a pop out to short. The Orioles’ right-hander breezed through the 3rd inning thanks to a pair of grounders and a pop-up to the catcher. He’d open the 4th by striking out looking, before giving up a single to , ending a streak of seven consecutive Guardians retired. The O’s defense would pick up their starter to end the 4th, as at third and started a 5-4-3 double play. Baz picked up his fourth punchout of the night to begin the 5th, snapping off a knuckle curve below the zone to get Juan Brito. After getting Hedges to ground out on another good knuckle curve, the hard-throwing Texan ran into some bad luck to end the 5th. Shortstop grounded a ball to the right side that just barely eluded the pocket of Jackson’s glove, skipped off the glove into right field and allowed Rocchio to skamper to second for a double. After a double with an xBA of .120 kept the inning alive, Kwan lined a single to RF Johnathan Rodríguez. The Orioles’ outfielder fired a frozen rope to home plate, beating Rocchio, but the Cleveland infielder just barely slid under the tag of Samuel Basallo to score the Guardians’ third run. Cleveland would add their fourth run against Baz in the 6th, thanks to another rally started by Ramírez. The Guardians’ best player led off the inning by working a 10-pitch walk. He then moved to third on a line drive by Manzardo to right, before scoring on a single to left off Valera’s bat. The Oriole’s starter would limit the damage, finishing the inning with two more Ks and a groundout to short. That closed Baz’s line at 6 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 BB and 6 K. The Orioles will look to end their second three-game losing streak of the season tomorrow when takes the bump in Cleveland. First pitch is set for 6:10pm ET.

Orioles barely avoid being no-hit in 4-2 loss to Guardians

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