The Baltimore Orioles sent starter Zach Eflin to the IL before tonight’s game with shoulder inflammation. He’s not expected to miss too much time, but it’s a tough spot and a tough pill to swallow (especially with Eflin set to start tomorrow). With the possibility of tomorrow being a bullpen game, the Birds needed a good start tonight out of Dean Kremer. And they got it. Kremer’s line: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 7 K.
There are two sets of positives in this game. The first part was Kremer. the second were Oriole bats, which came alive tonight with an exclamation point. Kremer had a 2-0 lead tonight before he even took the mound thanks to a two-run homer by Anthony Santander.
But the runs didn’t stop there. James McCann’s sac fly-RBI in the second ran it to 3-0. That came as a result of Colton Cowser technically hitting a ball off the outfield wall. Instant replay reversed what had originally been an out, but upon further review it was ruled a triple given that the ball ticked off the outfielder’s glove and hit the wall.
One inning later New York made a veiled attempt to get back into the game on an RBI-double by Vientos. That third inning is the only mini-struggle Dean Kremer had tonight. He walked two guys and had two strikes with two outs before allowing that double to Vientos. It was the only ball that was put in play that inning, but Kremer shut things down from there.
And the Orioles pressed on. Ramon Urias reached in the fourth on an infield single that got by the pitcher and was bobbled by the catcher. Colton Cowser scored from second base, as nobody covered home plate. a mental lapse by the New York infield on what amounted to a swinging bunt single. And the O’s took advantage.
But they weren’t finished. James McCann came back up in the aftermath of that run, and sent a two-run homer into the grandstand that might still be flying. Keep in mind, the O’s traded for McCann with the New York Mets over the 2022-‘23 off season. You know he had (that traded him) to feel good homering against his former team in his former home park.
Eloy Jimenez would tack on an RBI-double in the fifth, and it’s probably a good thing that he did. With a man on second and one out in the eighth, Vientos reached on a Gunnar Henderson error. Nimmo would double home a run, bringing Martinez to the plate.
Mind you, Martinez has hit the Orioles well over time. And that’s a trend which continued, as he hit a three-run homer. That cut the lead to 7-5.
Luckily the Birds got out of it without further damage. They also had one more turn at bat. Following a single and a walk, Gunnar Henderson made up for his earlier error. He dropped a blooper off the left fielder Nimmo’s glove that was ruled a hit…
…two throwing errors later both runners had scored. And Henderson stood on third base. That gave the Orioles some much needed breathing room, and they closed out the game.
But you have to take outs when they’re given to you. Unfortunately it was Gunnar Henderson who committed the error, but reliever Burch Smith who suffered as a result. On a positive note, Brandon Hyde went to Craig Kimbrel with one down in the ninth, who closed things down nicely – two outs in seven pitches. Not a save situation, but hopefully it gives Kimbrel some confidence and keeps him fresh.
However the big story was Dean Kremer. The O’s needed a deep start tonight. And he provided it. Also his second straight quality start. What happens tomorrow is certainly a concern. But for tonight, a win’s a win.
Kremer’s strong outing, combined with Oriole bats coming alive tonight is a good sign. The injury bug hasn’t been kind to the Orioles this year. Especially of late. Which means they need to conserve their bullpen as best they can. Things got hairy unnecessarily in the end. But Kremer did his part.
The series concludes tomorrow afternoon at Citi Field. Cole Irvin will come back up to make the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by New York’s Sean Manaea. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.
Birdland Crush 