BALTIMORE- What happened? After compiling a 7.04 ERA in his first six starts and failing to complete six innings, Dean Kremer not only finished six, but breezed through the seventh inning.
Kremer (3-4) allowed just three hits, two to Michael Massey — a double in the second and a single in the seventh — and a single to Freddy Fermin. He walked one and struck out two on the way to a 3-0 win over the Kansas City Royals before 26,364 at Oriole Park on Friday night.
Kremer’s most impressive moment came in the second inning when he took a line drive by Mark Canha off his upper right leg and sprinted to first to accept Ryan Mountcastle’s toss in time for the out — a 1-3-1.
“It’s a mindset where they’re going to have to pry the ball out of my hand to take me out, no matter what the situation is,” Kremer said. “It’s a part of the job. Just because you get hit with a comeback doesn’t mean you need to come out of the game. I felt good enough to kind of keep going. I got lucky. It didn’t hit me in a bad spot. And just kind of pushed through from there.”
Manager Brandon Hyde was thrilled with Kremer’s determination.
“They were really aggressive on him, so he got a lot of early in the count outs,” Hyde said. “I thought he commanded the ball well. He only had a couple punchouts but a lot of three-pitch-or-less outs, made quality pitches. Got smoked on the leg on that line drive and stayed in the game. Had to battle through some soreness for the last few innings. It started to tighten up on him there kind of the middle of the game, but he went back out, did a great job.”
The Orioles have won three of their last four and are 13-18.
The Orioles didn’t have any success against Kansas City starter Michael Wacha in the first six innings when they had just three singles but never got a runner past second base.
In the seventh, Adley Rutschman led off with a double, and Ryan O’Hearn homered to left-center, his sixth. Ryan Mountcastle doubled and scored on Emmanuel Rivera’s bases-loaded single against Steven Cruz.
The Orioles also put a stop to Bobby Witt Jr.’s 22-game hitting streak, longest in the majors this season. Yennier Cano, who pitched a scoreless eighth, struck out him with Jonathan India on first.
Félix Bautista pitched a scoreless ninth for his sixth save, and the Orioles had their first shutout of the season.
Ramón Urías was scratched with right hamstring tightness.
“He’s got a little bit sore hamstring, so we’re not sure yet,” Hyde said. “We’ll see how he feels tomorrow. But he was a late scratch tonight.”
How good was Kremer? The Orioles were shut out in Kremer’s last two starts, but he seemed to finally put it together Friday night.
“Speaking for myself, I’d like to say so,” Kremer said. “It’s definitely something to build off of, and I think it was collective tonight, not just me. Plays were made, defense put on a show, and the offense got it done right when they needed to.”
Kremer ended last season with a 2.25 ERA in his last four starts, and he hopes Friday night was the start of a similar trend.
“I wish I would do it Opening Day, you know?” he said. “But it doesn’t seem to have unfolded that way. But hopefully, from here on out, we can put together a consistent start.”
O’Hearn, whose locker is next to Kremer’s, enjoyed the 29-year-old right-hander’s performance.
“No doubt about it. He was rolling and it seemed like we had some traffic, we had guys on base and then there’d be a hard-hit ball right at a guy, double play, end of the inning,” O’Hearn said. “So, just keeping the spirits high and everyone staying positive and continue to have good at bats and then be able to cash in some runs there in that inning and give us a win. It was great.”
The Orioles have recorded three wins while scoring just 12 runs in the past four games. They’ll need more strong starts while missing a number of key players.
“I think it’s give or take every night. It’s a different battle every night,” O’Hearn said. “Sometimes, the starter goes out there and gives you six shutties. Sometimes, he’s battling and the offense needs to pick him up.
“So, I think our offense, yeah, we’re missing a few guys right now but it’s still a very potent offense and great hitters up and down. So, I feel like we’re never out of it and I feel like we can come back. We can tack on runs after a small lead. When it’s 0-0 in the sixth like that, we have a great chance to win the game. So, very happy with our guys and how they competed tonight.”
How’s Bautista doing? Bautista threw a spotless ninth for the third straight time.
“There was never a doubt, even on Opening Day, whether Félix was going to be ready or not,” Kremer said. “He’s unbelievable out there. He’s one of the toughest at-bats across the leagues, no matter whether he’s not feeling good or feeling great. His presence is different than most, if not all, and he’s a tough at-bat regardless. In terms of thinking whether he can close the door or not in the ninth, I don’t think there was ever a doubt in anyone’s mind.”
Hyde is enjoying Bautista’s return after missing a season because of Tommy John surgery.
“I couldn’t be happier,” he said. “I feel like the command is just getting better. The stuff’s ticking up a little bit, the fastball velo is ticking up, the split has been really good, the command of all his pitches is improving every time out, it feels like.
“He was a huge part of why we won 100 games two years ago. Best reliever in the game two years ago, and then we didn’t have him last year. That’s not easy.”
What did Elias say? Before the game, executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias said how disappointed he was with the start of the season.
The Orioles have 13 players on the injured list, nine pitchers.
“The guys that aren’t healthy, training staff, strength coaching staff, coaching staff, working to get those guys healthy,” Elias said. “The guys that aren’t performing the way they should be, coaches, analysts, we’re all talking and working at that.
“If there’s outside help to be had, the front office is working at that. So I just think we have to push in all directions to get our rotation in a better place. I do have optimism that that’s going to happen. I think it’s going to stabilize. I think we should have better health than we’ve had. It’s hard not to. And I think we’re going to pitch better.”
Outfielder Tyler O’Neill, who’s on the injured list with neck inflammation, is eligible to return on Sunday. Infielder Jordan Westburg could return next Wednesday. He’s been on the IL with a left hamstring strain.
“I don’t have exact dates but I think they’re both going to be off the IL here pretty soon,” Elias said. “We may — we’re discussing rehab assignments or not with both of those guys right now, but these are kind of days-away thing more than weeks away is how it looks right now.”
Starting pitcher Zach Eflin, who’s been on the 15-day injured list with a right lat injury, will pitch for High-A Aberdeen on Sunday. So will relief pitcher Andrew Kittredge, who hasn’t pitched this season and is on the IL after cartilage was removed from his left knee. Elias said Kittredge’s rehab assignment would be a long one. He didn’t specify how long Eflin’s would be.
What does it mean? Despite the injuries, the Orioles can remain competitive if they get strong starts, good work in the bullpen and just enough runs.
What’s the word? “Obviously, there’s a point for any of those things. Sitting here — what is it, May 1st, May 2nd? — the answer’s no. But if making changes to the roster, whatever those might be, when we’re confident it’s going to improve the team, we’ll consider those things.”-Elias on whether the time has come to make major changes.
What’s the stat of the day? The game was played in two hours, three minutes, the shortest since April 29th, 2015, the game played without fans.
What’s going on in the minor leagues? Brandon Young allowed two runs on four hits in six innings as Triple-A Norfolk beat Charlotte, 11-3. Designated hitter TT Bowens had three RBIs for the Tides.
Catcher Creed Willems homered twice and drove in three in Double-A Chesapeake’s 8-7 loss to Hartford in 10 innings.
High-A Aberdeen was held to two hits in a 2-1 loss to Bowling Green.
First baseman Yasmil Bucce had three RBIs as Single-A Delmarva beat Fayetteville, 5-4.
Infielder Jalen Vazquez was transferred from the IronBirds to the Baysox, and right-hander Michael Forret was placed on the Aberdeen Injured List.
What’s next? Tomoyuki Sugano (3-1, 3.00) will face Kris Bubic (2-2, 2.25) on Saturday at 7:15 p.m. The game will be shown exclusively on FOX.
Call for questions: Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. Please send yours to: Rich,@BaltimoreBaseball.com