BALTIMORE–What happened? For weeks, Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino has been insisting that his team still has a chance to contend for a playoff spot. With just two games remaining before the four-day All-Star break, Mansolino’s team is trying to convince skeptics that yes, it is a contender.
On Friday night, Dean Kremer pitched seven solid innings, allowing just three hits and a walk, as the Orioles won their third straight game, 5-2 over the Miami Marlins before 22,213 at Camden Yards.
The Orioles (43-50) are seven games under .500 for the first time since May 4th and have won six of seven. The Marlins (42-51) featured Kyle Stowers and Connor Norby, who played against the Orioles for the first time since they were traded for left-hander Trevor Rogers last July 30th.
Rogers will pitch against Miami on Saturday.
Kremer (8-7) gave up singles to Otto Lopez in the first, Norby in the third and Stowers in the seventh. Stowers walked in the fourth. He struck out seven.
“When things start rolling our way, we can do some pretty cool things,” Kremer said. “It’s definitely been, the last week and a half, very encouraging for every guy in this room, and I’m sure the staff feels that as well — that we’re definitely not out.”
The Orioles scored two runs in the first on an RBI single by Jordan Westburg and a run-scoring double by Ryan O’Hearn. Four straight hits in the third against Edward Cabrera (3-4) resulted in two more runs. O’Hearn had an RBI single, and Ramón Laureano, who had three hits, drove in a run with a double, and another run in the seventh with a single.
“About time, you know what I mean?” O’Hearn said. “I feel like there’s so much talent in this room and there’s so many good players that we’ve been waiting to kind of get the ball rolling, come together and rattle off good baseball for, I don’t know, it’s been a month or so or a couple of weeks or whatever it’s been.
“It feels like how it should feel. We have enough talent in this room to win games, and tonight was great. I thought Dean was great, offense was awesome, and we’re having fun right now, rolling. Two more games until the break, so trying to rally the troops and finish this first half strong.”
Yennier Cano pitched a perfect eighth. Andrew Kittredge allowed a two-run home run to Lopez in the ninth.
What made Kremer so sharp? After his start in Milwaukee on May 19th, Kremer had a 5.50 ERA. Now, it’s down to 4.24.
“We went in with a plan and kind of committed to it, and it was working,” Kremer said.
“[Catcher Jacob] Stallings did a great job back there calling pitches. We talked between every inning — him, myself and [pitching strategist Ryan Klimek] — and kind of putting a plan together and adjusting if needed, and it worked out tonight.”
Mansolino was effusive in his praise of Kremer.
“He’s awesome. I mean, he’s been on such a roll here lately,” he said. “The stuff is ticking up. It feels like every time out, there’s a lot of life to the fastball. The split was sharp. He dropped in some breaking balls in the right spots. Super competitive. Yeah, he’s just been so good here for a while.”
Why are the Orioles playing well? The Orioles were 16-11 in June and they’re 6-3 in July.
“I mean, it’s a mystery, you know?” O’Hearn said. “No, I mean, I don’t know. It just feels like we’re getting big timely hits and we’re playing great defense and the pitchers have been great. It just seems like things are coming together right now. I don’t want to speak too much on it and jinx it or anything like that. I think we’re just going to take this win and roll it into tomorrow, try to win the series, and take it one day at a time.”
What does it mean? The Orioles are playing crisp games. They haven’t been spectacular, but they have been effective.
What’s the stat of the game? It was Kremer’s fourth scoreless start of the season. In three of the four, he’s pitched seven shutout innings and allowed three hits.
What’s the word? “We have played good here in a recent stretch, and I’m thrilled with how we’re doing things.”-Mansolino on the Orioles’ recent play.
What’s going on in the minor leagues? Samuel Basallo hit a two-run homer, his 18th, and Terrin Vavra also homered as Triple-A Norfolk beat Jacksonville, 5-3, in 10 innings.
Houston Roth (3-0) pitched two spotless innings. He has a 1.66 eRA.
First baseman Cole Urman’s 10th-inning single gave Double-A Chesapeake a 3-2 win over Reading.
Second baseman Aron Estrada hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning to give High-A Aberdeen a 3-1 win over Jersey Shore. Cohen Achen (3-6) pitched five hitless innings.
Rightfielder Nate George and designated hitter Colin Tuft each drove in two runs in Single-A Delmarva’s 8-6 loss to Fayetteville.
What’s next? Trevor Rogers (2-0, 1.57) will face Janson Junk (3.12) at 4:05 p.m. on Saturday.
Call for questions: Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com