Things started off well, but got bad in a hurry.
I wonder how many times this season it’s been written in one of our game recaps that this loss was one of the more embarrassing of the season. I won’t go back and check, but it just feels like there have been a lot. And yet, here I am, declaring tonight’s 6-5 loss to the Rockies one of the most embarrassing of the season.
The Orioles staked starting pitcher Dean Kremer to an early lead, which he blew despite being pretty successful in his starts lately. After their initial outburst of runs, they fell completely silent against starting pitcher Kyle Freeland, who came into this game with a 5.19 ERA and 1.53 WHIP. It was a frustrating way to lose a game, and even more so because it was against such a bad team.
Kremer has always been an up-and-down player. He’s capable on any given day to pitch seven shutout innings, but you never know when he’ll do that and when he’ll fall apart. Tonight, against the worst team in baseball, he did the latter.
Things started well, which is just a cruel trick the Orioles play on us at this point. I just want to watch some good baseball every once in a while!
Kremer allowed two baserunners in the first inning, but they got on with a bloop single and a ground ball to shortstop. He looked sharp despite it. He pitched a 1-2-3 second and, thanks to a bunch of dingers from the Orioles, the team went into the third inning with a 4-0 lead. Everything went downhill after that. But first, let’s talk home runs.
Kyle Freeland started for the Rockies, and he looked awful to start the game. Jordan Westburg and Tyler O’Neill took him deep in the first inning to put the Orioles up, 2-0. And in the second, Coby Mayo launched his second homer of the year. Two batters later, Alex Jackson hit one of his own. Jackson Holliday also doubled in the inning but was stranded.
Four solo home runs in the first two innings and it looked like the Orioles were on their way to an easy win. But nothing is easy for the Orioles. Kremer fell apart starting in the third inning. The Rockies got a solo homer of their own in the third from Mickey Moniak. The lead was cut to just one in the fourth inning. Kremer walked Ezequiel Tovar ahead of Thairo Estrada. Estrada connected with a sinker in the bottom of the strike zone for his third home run of the year.
Kremer lost the lead in the fifth inning. He allowed three straight batters to reach base, which resulted in two runs. He walked Moniak, who came in to score on a double by Hunter Goodman. Then Goodman scored on a single from Jordan Beck. After being given a 4-0 lead in the second inning, Kremer steadily allowed five unanswered runs to score.
While that was happening, the bats went silent against Freeland. After Holliday’s double in the second inning, Freeland retired the next eight batters. Only when Holliday came up again in the fifth inning and singled did the Orioles get another baserunner. Holliday promptly ruined that by getting picked off. Jackson Holliday has boatloads of talent but he really needs to get his baserunning under control.
Four more Orioles went down in order before Cedric Mullins dragged a bunt for a hit in the bottom of the sixth inning. By this time it was raining at Camden Yards with thunder and lightning surrounding the stadium. In the top of the sixth they made the fans leave the seating bowl but let the players continue to play. Weird choice to me, but ok.
Kremer completed six innings and turned things over to the bullpen. After six innings, Freeland left the game as well, which gave the Orioles the chance to get back in the game. They tied it in the seventh thanks to the Jacksons. Alex Jackson doubled ahead of Jackson Holliday, who singled him home.
The fun didn’t last long. Andrew Kittredge, who hopefully will be traded soon, untied the game immediately in the top of the eighth. Ezequiel Tovar turned on pitch inside in the zone and launched it to left field. 6-5 Rockies.
Tyler O’Neill has been a disappointment this year, but tonight he looked pretty good at the plate. After his first-inning home run, he hit the ball very hard in his second at-bat. And in the bottom of the eighth inning he smoked a ball to centerfield for a leadoff double. Alas, he was stranded. He got to third base with two outs and Tony Mansolino sent pinch-hitter Ryan O’Hearn up to try and get the job done. He struck out.
Orioles lose, 6-5. Kremer had one of his trademark bad games, the offense fell asleep after an early outburst, and the Rockies picked up just their 27th win of the season. Better luck, next time. Or not. Whatever.