The Baltimore Orioles called Dean Kremer up from triple-A Norfolk for his first start of the season tonight. In short, “Deano” needs to prevent the long ball. That’s what plagued him tonight. Luckily his teammates picked him up. Kremer’s line: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R (2 earned), 0 BB, 9 K,
Kremer and the Orioles trailed from the first pitch. Marte hit it over the wall for a solo homer. Arizona appeared poised to make contact, and Kremer was pitching to contact. Not a good combination. The zero walks also indicates that. To prove he wasn’t kidding, Marte smacked another solo shot in the third to extend the lead to 2-0.
The O’s tried to battle back against Arizona starter, Nelson. Gunnar Henderson’s RBI-triple in the last of the third cut the lead to 2-1. However Arizona issued what they felt was a coup de grace with a two-run homer by Arenado in the fourth. To make matters worse, he would smack a three-run shot in the sixth, and the Birds trailed 7-1.
Needless to say, you don’t want to spot someone a 7-1 lead. That much goes without saying. However this is a group of Orioles who over the past few seasons have learned a thing or two about coming back. That’s one of the good parts about having a core group that’s played together for awhile. That and becoming new talent.
With two on in the last of the sixth, Leody Taveras smacked an RBI-single in the last of the sixth. A walk would then bring Jeremiah Jackson to the plate with the bases loaded. The rest, as they say, is history.
Keep in mind, Jackson wasn’t always going to be on the roster. At least to start the year. But due to injuries, he’s here. And it’s a darned good thing he is.
With the bases loaded in the last of the sixth, Jackson sent a deep fly ball to left. Bear in mind also that at one time the O’s trailed 7-1 – overall a fairly safe lead. But when Jackson’s shot in the sixth went over the wall, the comeback was on. Jackson’s grand slam cut the lead to 7-6.
One inning later the struggling Pete Alonso smacked a two-run home run to give the Orioles the lead at 8-7. But to show he wasn’t kidding, Jackson came back up in the eighth and smacked a solo home run. The Birds would close out Arizona in the ninth, and went home 9-7 winners.
Make no mistake, that’s the biggest and most surprising win of the young season. It’s the kind of game that fans saw in 2023. Despite Jeremiah Jackson being the MVP by far, this was also a big game for Pete Alonso. We may well look back on him stealing that base on Saturday night as the catalyst for a big season.
The series continues tomorrow night at Camden Yards. Trevor Rogers gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Arizona’s Merrill Kelly. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.
Birdland Crush 