Dean Kremer was outstanding this afternoon for the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. Yes it’s only the ninth game. But he pitched deeper than any other starter this year. And he possibly could have pitched deeper. Maybe he should have. Kremer’s line: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R (0 earned), 0 BB, 6 K.
The O’s have run into a bit of trouble scoring runs the past couple of games. Let’s just say they’ve been at a premium. Today, they only mustered two. But it was almost enough. And I wouldn’t expect the offensive scuffles to continue indefinitely.
Pittsburgh almost took a lead in the third inning. Cruz hit what appeared to be a two-run homer. However the ball hung up in the air, and it bounced off the top of the wall. Cedric Mullins got to it quickly, and gunned the ball back into the infield to Jorge Mateo. Mateo threw home, and nailed the runner at home plate. The O’s went from presumably trailing by two (when we thought it was a home run), to leading by one, to remaining tied at zero.
One inning later the Orioles took the lead. Ryan Mountcastle’s RBI-double gave them a 1-0 lead, and Mountcastle took third on an error. Anthony Santander’s run-scoring single would score Mountcastle and put the Birds up 2-0.
Again, Dean Kremer was fantastic today. However the Orioles couldn’t muster more than six hits – this after only having four yesterday. You have to be able to tack runs on. And the O’s couldn’t do it today – or yesterday for that matter.
The one mistake Kremer made was a bad throw in the fifth that should have started a double-play. However the throw was catchable, the O’s just couldn’t make the play. That put a runner at third, who scored on Davis’ sacrifice fly. That cut the lead to 2-1.
Keegan Akin pitched a quick eighth inning following Kremer’s departure, and the Birds turned to Yennier Cano in the ninth. Cano of course was the one reliever who wasn’t used yesterday, so he was fresh. That said, he struggled with control. And unfortunately with only a one run lead, the margin for error wasn’t great.
Cano loaded the bases, and Tellez sent a swinging bunt to Ryan Mountcastle at first. Mountcastle fired home and the runner was ruled safe. However to the naked eye even, he was clearly out. And instant replay upheld that point. So instead of a 2-2 tie and the bases loaded with nobody out, the O’s still led 2-1 and one out (bases still loaded).
But Pittsburgh immediately righted things from their perspective. Olivares grounded out to Gunnar Henderson at first, who made an outstanding play just to get to the ball. On top of that he got to second base for the out; which was outstanding. He had plenty of time to throw back to first for the final out, and for a split second the O’s had the win in hand…
…but Henderson’s throw sailed wide of first, scoring two runs and giving Pittsburgh a 3-2 win. It’s the Orioles’ first series loss, dropping two-of-three in Pittsburgh. After an off day tomorrow, they’re onto Boston.
There are a million takes on this game, but first and foremost the defensive angle sticks out at me. The Orioles’ defense flashed brilliance in this game. The Mullins/Mateo put out was amazing. So was Henderson’s play to get to the ball in the end, and tag the bag. But defense can also cost you games, and that’s what ultimately happened.
Again, Oriole bats didn’t give Yennier Cano much leeway today. But he promptly loaded the bases, which can’t happen. End of the day, all of these games count. And they could all mean something in the end. But better to have this happen now as opposed to this week at Fenway, as the Orioles prepare to open division play for the first time this season on Tuesday.