Dean Kremer had to labor in his maiden start for the Baltimore Orioles in 2025. A pitcher is going to have ten good starts a year, ten bad, and ten in between. This one was in that latter category – but it was enough to win. Kremer’s line: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 6 K.
The Birds led from the get go. Colton Cowser smacked a solo home run in the first at-bat of the ballgame. Jordan Westburg would follow suit later in the inning with one of his own. However Toronto would tie it in the bottom of the inning. They would take a 4-2 lead in the third on Giminez’s two-run homer.
However the O’s weren’t dead just yet. Gary Sanchez would bring them to within one with a sac fly-RBI in the fourth. However the Birds would eventually load the bases with Ramon Urias coming to the plate. And he didn’t disappoint- his bases-clearing double gave the Orioles the lead back at 6-4.
The Orioles would extend their lead in the fifth with an RBI-single by Cedric Mullins, Heston Kjerstad racked on a sac fly-RBI, and the Birds led 8-4. However Toronto would inch closer in the bottom of the inning with an RBI-groundout by Guerrero.
If the Orioles thought they were going to collapse in this game, Jordan Westburg reminded them that they were in the lead, his second homer of the game was a solo shot in the seventh, and served as an insurance run in the Birds’ 9-5 win.
On top of this, Toronto’s starter Scherzer (a future first ballot hall of famer), left the game early. This meaning that Toronto’s bullpen got taxted. To the point that they may have to make a roster move in anticipation of tomorrow’s game. That‘s huge.
The series concludes tomorrow at Rogers Centre. Tomoyuki Sugano gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Toronto’s Chris Bassitt. Game time is set for just after 1:30 PM.
Birdland Crush 