You could argue that Minnesota put Dean Kremer and the Baltimore Orioles right where they wanted them. They dialed them into a situation where one lackluster inning was going to bite them. And it did. Kremer’s line: 5.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 4 K.
Overall Kremer didn’t pitch poorly this afternoon. In fact, he pitched the team’s way into having an opportunity to win. Which is the goal of a starter. The O’s jumped on the board early on and RBI-double by Ryan Mountcastle in the third inning. He would quickly score on Gunnar Henderson’s two-run home run.
However some teams deal with pressure well. Minnesota’s a group of guys who are full of what you might call joie de vivre. The Orioles not so much. Teams in the East are often more intense. And that at times works against the O’s, especially against a team that had won eight straight coming in.
Kremer surrendered a solo homer to Lee to lead off the fourth. Solo home runs however don’t hurt you – unless you’re playing against someone hellbent on winning no matter what. Against teams such as this, it’s a death wish.
Minnesota put two on immediately in the wake of that homer off of a walk and a base hit. Later in the inning the nine hole hitter, Vasquez smacked a three-run homer, giving Minnesota a lead of 4-3. A lead they would never surrender.
They make it look like they’re beating you with power. Granted, that’s a ln element of it. However they’re doing it by getting guys on base in any manner they can, and getting them home in any manner they can. And that’s how they added on late as well. Larnach’s RBI-double led to a final run scoring on a wild pitch, and the O’s falling 6-3 in game one of a doubleheader.
The series continues later this afternoon against Minnesota at Camden Yards. Chayce McDermott gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Minnesota’s Simeon Richardson. The game time has not been announced, but it will be later today.
Birdland Crush 