Orioles 2, Palms 0
Wednesday, June 24, 2020 – Coca-Cola Palms Park
By Vin Castillo
A night after rediscovering their bats, the Miami Palms went quiet again.
Baltimore left-hander John Means dominated Miami for eight innings Wednesday night, holding the Palms to just two hits as the Orioles claimed a 2–0 victory at Coca-Cola Palms Park.
The loss drops Miami to 40–41, continuing a frustrating pattern for a lineup that has struggled to string together consistent offense over the past two weeks.
Means set the tone early and never lost it. The Orioles’ starter mixed a sharp fastball with a steady diet of off-speed pitches, striking out eight while allowing only a double from Chris Korb and a single from Brock Holt through eight innings.
“Sometimes you tip your cap,” manager Scott Hatteberg said afterward. “He had command of everything tonight.”
Miami’s best chance came in the second inning when Korb doubled into the left-center gap, but Means stranded him there with a strikeout and a routine groundout.
Otherwise, the Palms never seriously threatened.
Jarod Lantz, making another start after missing much of the spring with injury, kept Miami within striking distance. The right-hander allowed just one run over five innings, though five walks forced him to work carefully most of the night.
Baltimore finally scratched across the game’s first run in the fourth on Chance Sisco’s RBI double, and the Orioles added an insurance run in the seventh against Cody Allen when Yusniel Diaz lined an RBI single.
That was more than enough support for Means.
The Palms finished with three hits and nine strikeouts, continuing a stretch in which timely offense has been difficult to find.
After the game, the club made a roster move aimed at injecting some energy back into the lineup.
Rookie outfielder Emilio Miranda, who had been called up earlier this month from Triple-A Jackson, was optioned back to the Rebels, while veteran Brett Gardner was activated from the injured list.
Miranda showed flashes during his call-up but struggled to find consistent playing time as the roster began returning to full strength.
Gardner’s return gives Miami an experienced presence in center field and at the top of the lineup — something the club has missed during its recent offensive lull.
The Palms will try to salvage the final game of the series Thursday before continuing their long homestand, which still includes upcoming matchups with Texas, Boston, and Tampa Bay.
And with Gardner now back in the clubhouse, Miami hopes a familiar spark might follow.
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