BALTIMORE–What happened? The Orioles are in the midst of a 16-game stretch of playing American League playoff contenders. In their first eight games, the Orioles won six against Seatle, Houston and Boston. In the first three of a four-game series against the Astros, the Orioles have lost three in a row.
Christian Walker’s two-run home run in the seventh inning, the third straight game in which he’s homered, lifted the Astros past the Orioles, 9-8, before 30,159 at Camden Yards on Saturday night.
Dietrich Enns (1-2) gave up Walker’s two-run home run, which broke a 7-7 tie.
Jeremiah Jackson’s RBI single scored Dylan Beavers in the eighth to make it 9-8.
After the top of the first inning, when Oriole starter Dean Kremer allowed five runs on three home runs, it seemed unlikely the Orioles would be competitive. Carlos Correa and Victor Caratini hit two-run home runs, and Jesús Sánchez hit a solo shot.
The Astros scored two more runs in the third With Jose Altuve on third and Sánchez on second with one out, Caratini grounded to third, and after Coby Mayo caught Vimael Machin’s throw, his throw to the plate was wild. Altuve scored on the grounder and Sánchez on the error to give Houston (72-58) a 7-5 lead.
“He’s probably frustrated with himself,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said about Kremer, who carried 14 scoreless innings into the game. “Just some bad pitches in that first inning over the middle part of the plate. Wasn’t sharp. The one two-run homer there to Correa, his back foot slipped kind of in the delivery going off the mound. It was an 87 mph sinker … and we know that’s not Dean. It’s usually 92, 93, and looking at the video he definitely slipped a little bit.
“Think he was a little frustrated with that, and I think just a couple pitches in that first inning weren’t sharp, and they capitalized on it. Pretty veteran offensive team that’s done it for a long time. And I thought he settled in quite nicely in a lot of ways. The two spot in the third inning, that’s not really kind of on him. It’s a single, a squibber down the line. Kind of navigates some traffic right there, gets a ground ball in a big spot, we just threw it around.”
Kremer allowed seven runs, six earned, on seven hits in five innings.
The Orioles (59-70) got three runs against Houston starter Cristian Javier in the first on Gunnar Henderson’s RBI single and Colton Cowser’s two-run single. They tied it at 5 on a two-run single by Ryan Mountcastle in the second.
Jackson’s first major league run in the fourth cut Houston’s lead to 7-6. Cowser’s 11th home run in the fifth tied it at 7.
Jackson’s home run gave the Orioles 21 players with a homer, the most in the majors this year. Jackson is batting .339
“It’s been a fun experience,” he said. “A lot of hard work to get here and even harder work just being up here … It’s been a long journey to be up here, have some success in the short time I’ve been here. It’s been awesome. It’s been good.”
AJ Blubaugh (2-1) pitched four innings, and allowed the Jackson and Cowser homers. Bryan Abreu retired the Orioles in order in the ninth for his third save, and second in two nights.
Was there an issue between Kremer and Basallo? After the third and fourth innings, there was some chatter between Kremer and catcher Samuel Basallo. Kremer seemed to be lecturing Basallo.
“That’s the first time I’ve thrown to him in a real game,” Kremer said. “Spring training doesn’t really count. I think I threw to him once there. But it was our first time working together and he’s going to be here for a while, so I’m sure there’s going to be some learning curve. But you miss pitches down the middle and you get hurt, and that’s on me. That’s not on him.”
Mansolino said the interaction wasn’t unusual for Kremer.
“I was watching him, actually, and that’s kind of Dean normally,” Mansolino said. “You go back and look at his last game when he threw seven scoreless, he interacts the same way with everybody. I watched it, I saw it, it’s very normal interactions for Dean, whether he’s pitching good or really bad. It’s just Deano.”
What does it mean? Basallo and Kremer will learn to coexist. Kremer’s personality is different than other starters. It will be interesting to watch them work together in the future.
What’s the stat of the day? Dylan Beavers singled and doubled, and has reached base 15 times in seven games, setting a franchise record.
What’s the word? “I’m honestly looking forward to that, being in that role. There are a lot of guys who are in this room right now who are going to help us win championships down the road.”-Gunnar Henderson on being a leader on the Orioles.
What’s going on in the minor leagues? Liván Soto’s three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth gave Triple-A Norfolk a 4-2 win over Charlotte.
Creed Willems hit a two-run home run, his 15th as Double-A Chesapeake lost to Richmond, 4-2.
High-A Aberdeen scored four runs in the eighth to beat Brooklyn, 5-3. Colin Tuft homered.
Ike Irish, the Orioles’ first-round draft pick was removed from Single-A Delmarva’s game as a precaution with a right shin bruise after he fouled a ball off his leg. The Shorebirds lost to Kannapolis, 5-1.
What’s next? Trevor Rogers (6-2, 1.41) will face Spencer Arrighetti (1-4, 6.94) on Sunday at 1:35 p.m.
Call for questions: Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com