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BALTIMORE—What happened? Dean Kremer allowed six runs, three unearned, in 5 2/3 innings in a 9-2 Orioles loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday.
Arizona scored three unearned runs in the fourth and fifth and six runs in the sixth, three against Kremer and three off Cionel Pérez. Kremer struck out 10 batters equaling his career high. He walked four.
“We didn’t play our best baseball today,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “Just all around. It was kind of sloppy for us defensively and kind of one of those games for us.”
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The game was stopped for 33 minutes in the eighth by rain. The grounds crew was not standing by the tarp when crew chief Bill Miller decided to stop play, and though the tarp was removed about seven minutes after the delay began, the infield had absorbed rain and required sand.
What happened to Kremer? After three unearned runs, Jake McCarthy hit a two-run home run in the sixth, and then things got worse.
“He made a bad pitch there in the sixth for the two-run homer,” Hyde said. “But he punched out a bunch. I thought his stuff was good again.”
In his last start, Kremer pitched seven shutout innings, allowing just one hit at Cincinnati. He gave up two runs on four hits in seven innings against the New York Yankees in the start before that.
Kremer retired his first nine hitters before trouble began.
“I thought the first few innings he was great,” Hyde said. “He made a pitch there for the two-run homer.”
Said Kremer: “I was a little bit more wild in that second time through, but in terms of damage, McCarthy put a good swing on a good pitch, and that was about it.”
What was wrong with the Orioles’ offense? The Orioles got two runs on four hits against Arizona starter Zac Gallen. Last September, the Orioles knocked Gallen out of a game in Phoenix after they scored five runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings.
“He’s a really good starting pitcher, and he’s proven himself for a while now,” Hyde said. “He had a great postseason. He’s got fastball command. He’s got a really good changeup. He can dump a breaking ball in when he wants to. He can really keep guys off-balance well. He just knows how to pitch.”
Adley Rutschman hit his sixth home run. Anthony Santander and Jordan Westburg hit back-to-back doubles. Westburg has doubled in four straight games.
What was wrong with the Orioles’ defense? The Orioles had played seven straight errorless games before they made two costly ones on Sunday.
Kremer threw wildly to second when he attempted to pick off Corbin Carroll in the fourth, and third baseman Ramón Urias’ throw home on Carroll’s grounder with the bases loaded in the fifth pulled catcher James McCann off the plate and led to two more unearned runs.
How’s Grayson Rodriguez doing? Starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez is eligible to come off the 15-day injured list on Wednesday. He threw a 30-pitch bullpen session on Sunday and said he’s feeling good, but Cole Irvin is listed as the Orioles’ starter.
What did Means think of his second start? John Means allowed four runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings in his second start of the season on Saturday.
“Obviously, wasn’t very good,” Means said. “Didn’t really help the bullpen out a whole lot, but they came in and absolutely shoved. We have a really good team, so they really bailed me out.”
The Orioles won on Jordan Westburg’s walk-off single in the 11th, 5-4.
Sunday aside, how have the Orioles gotten better? Major league coach José Hernandez has been with the organization since 2010 and coached for the Orioles since 2019. It’s a source of pride to have watched the improvement in the club over the past few years.
“A lot of satisfaction. The first couple of years we were losing a lot of games,” Hernández said. “Now three years [later[, we start winning. Probably better players and better athletes. It’s fun to watch these guys’ improvement every day.”
What happened in the minor leagues? Outfielder Austin Hays was hitless in two at-bats, walking twice, as Double-A Bowie beat Akron, 5-4.
Hays has played five games for the Baysox in his rehab assignment, hitting .357 with two home runs and three RBIs. Hays has been on the 10-day injured list with a strained left calf muscle.
Third baseman Kyle Higgins drove in two runs.
Third baseman Coby Mayo hit his 13th home run as Triple-A Norfolk defeated Memphis, 8-5. The Tides hit four homers. First baseman Billy Cook, catcher Maverick Handley and leftfielder Shayne Fontana also hit home runs.
Cade Povich allowed three runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings. Povich struck out seven and walked one.
Hudson Valley defeated High-A Aberdeen, 4-3. Centerfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr. had two hits and stole two bases. He has 15 this season. Second baseman Tavian Josenberger stole one, and has 20. Leftfielder Scott Etzel stole two and has 17.
Single-A Delmarva had just four hits in its 5-0 loss to Kannapolis.
Norfolk placed left-handed pitcher Bruce Zimmermann (right hamstring strain) and outfielder Hudson Haskin (concussion) on the injured list. Infielder Terrin Vavra ended his rehab assignment and rejoined the Tides.
Right-handed pitcher Keagan Gillies was removed from Bowie’s injured list.
What’s the word? “That was the highlight of the game for me.”-Hyde on Albert Suárez’s three scoreless innings.
What does it mean? Kremer’s start coupled with Perez’s ineffectiveness led to the most runs allowed by the team since April 19th when they lost, 9-4, to Kansas City.
What’s the stat of the day? 6. Six of Kremer’s 10 strikeouts were called, the most by an Oriole since Wade Miley on April 20th, 2017. His out pitch was his sinker.
“I’d say it’s definitely come a long way,” Kremer said. “Being able to throw it arm-side, not just glove-side, I feel comfortable to front-hip lefties with it. It’s a step in the right direction.”
What’s next? The Orioles will play the Toronto Blue Jays for the first time this season. Corbin Burnes (3-2, 2.83) will face José Berrios (4-3, 2.85) on Monday evening at 6:35 at Camden Yards. Berrios is 10-1 with a 2.98 ERA in 14 starts against the Orioles.
Call for questions: Each weekday, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles’ question. Please send yours to: [email protected]