The Baltimore Orioles shutout the Boston Red Sox 2-0 on Thursday and in the process won the American League Eastern Division Crown. There were 27,543 fans in attendance to witness something that hadn’t happened since 2014, including Orioles CEO John Angelos and Maryland Governor Wes Moore, who added to the ballpark excitement by announcing the signing of a 30-year extension to the Oriole Park at Camden Yards lease.
It took just three batters for the Orioles to announce their intentions on the evening. Anthony Santander (1 for 4, 1 HR, 1 R, 1 RBI) sent a Chris Sale (5.0 IP, 1 R, 3 H [1 HR], 1 BB, 2 K) 4-seam fastball (the 9th pitch of the at-bat) 405 ft. to left field for his 28th homerun of the season and a 1-0 lead.
Let’s get the party started. pic.twitter.com/eaXpIpngQB
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) September 28, 2023
Baltimore starter Dean Kremer (13-5) walked Rafael Devers (1 for 3, 1 BB) with one out in the first inning and then proceeded to retire 11 Red Sox batters in a row, obviously fueled by the Tony Tater homer. Kremer left the game in the sixth inning with runners on first and third and one out, finished with a line of 5.1 IP, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K and earned the win.
The sixth inning was the only one in which Boston mounted a threat, and started with a ball hit by Connor Wong (1 for 3, 1 SB) that went through Jorge Mateo‘s (1 for 2) legs for an error.
DL Hall (1.2 IP, 1 K), Yennier Cano (0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 K) and Cionel Perez (0.1 IP) made the one run lead hold up until Heston Kjerstad‘s (1 for 1, 1 RBI) eighth inning pinch-hit bloop double scored Adam Frazier (0 for 0, 1 R, 1 BB).
SILENT J!! pic.twitter.com/kfXoPSDmsR
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) September 29, 2023
Tyler Wells (1.0 IP) earned his first save by inducing three groundouts in the ninth and set off a celebration nine years in the making.
GO CRAZY BALTIMORE pic.twitter.com/ZhYuxEO0lO
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) September 29, 2023
2023 Record: 100-59 (1980 was the last year with 100 wins)
Next Game: Fri. 9/29 @ 7:05 pm vs. Boston Red Sox @ OPACY
** Author’s ammendment: a lease was not signed, what was was a non-binding memorandum of understanding (per The Baltimore Sun)**