Dean Kremer made his maiden spring voyage this afternoon against Pittsburgh at Ed Smith Stadium. Interesting outing; Kremer surrendered two runs, but didn’t give up a hit. Kremer’s line: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 1 K.
Kremer sent Pittsburgh down 1-2-3 in the first. However he surrendered three walks to lead off the second inning, and you know what comes next. Nothing good ever happens after a walk – much less three. Yorke grounded into a force out, giving Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead. Rodriguez would do the same, and the O’s trailed 2-0.
These spring games are as much about fundamentals as anything else. They certainly aren’t about wins and losses! That second force out was a comebacker to Kremer. He hesitated ever so slightly in throwing the ball to second base; did that cause him to make a throwing that was slightly “off?” Tough to say. But the throw was slightly “off,” perhaps preventing a double-play. You can’t give away outs.
The Orioles would get on the board in the last of the second when Dylan Beavers grounded into a double-play with runners at the corners. But that was the only run that they would put across in the at-bat. In a game that didn’t count.
The O’s brought in Dietrich Enns in the fourth. Remember how every pitching analyst in history says stay out of the big inning? Enns didn’t take that advice this afternoon. Following a walk, he surrendered a two-run homer to Rodriguez, extending Pittsburgh’s lead to 4-1. Two singles later runners were at the corners, and Pittsburgh attempted a steal of second. Adley Rutschman committed a throwing error, allowing a run to score.
Following another walk, former Oriole fan favorite Ryan O’Hearn came up to bat. O’Hearn specifically requested to be on the trip for Pittsburgh, as he valued his time with the Orioles so much. To his credit, he took full advantage, sending an Enns pitch into the stands for a three-run home run and extending the Pittsburgh lead to 8-1.
However we also saw the beauty and majesty of baseball in that moment. When he came up for his first at-bat, O’Hearn was giving a standing ovation by Orioles fans at Ed Smith Stadium. He acknowledged the crowd and went about his business. While rounding the bases on that home run, Orioles fans also applauded; O’Hearn again acknowledged the crowd while rounding the bases.
O’Hearn anappreciated the fans while an Oriole. It showed today – on both sides. He showed a lot of class in that moment, as did the Orioles fans.
The O’s would get one back in the last of the fifth on an errant pickoff attempt, but the damage was done. Remember folks, the results aren’t important in these games. It’s things like Kremer hesitating in the moment as I mentioned above which need to be worked out. And they will be.
The Orioles head out on the road for the first time this spring tomorrow to take on Detroit at Joker Merchant Stadium. Kyle Bradish gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Detroit’s Jack Flaherty. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.
Birdland Crush 