WEST SACRAMENTO, California–What happened? The Orioles came into Friday night’s game against the Athletics with a six-game winning streak while their opponent had lost 20 of 22.
The Orioles had plenty of scoring chances and were undone by the lack of timely hitting and a four-run third by Dean Kremer in their 5-4 loss before 8,424 at Sutter Health Park.
They left 10 runners on base and were just 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
Dylan Carlson, who grew up in nearby Elk Grove, hit a two-run home run, his third, in the second against JP Sears (5-5).
Jackson Holliday doubled against Sears, the first left-hander to start against the Orioles (25-37) since interim manager Tony Mansolino took over on May 17th, to begin the third. It was just the second extra-base hit Holliday’s had against a left-hander. He scored on Ramón Laureano’s sacrifice fly.
Kremer (5-6) retired the first six batters, but in the third, allowed four runs, starting the inning with a walk after the Orioles had taken a 3-0 lead.Lawrence Butler’s RBI double, Jacob Wilson two-run single, and an infield out by Tyler Soderstrom scored the runs.
“Probably a combination of a couple of different things there,” Kremer said. “That was a mental error on the walk to lead off that inning, and it kind of spiraled from there. Butler hit a ball hard and Rooker hit a ball hard. That was just some bad luck there.”
Wilson, who was May’s American League Rookie of the Month, hit an extraordinarily low pitch from Kremer for the two-run base hit.
“He’s hitting like .370 on the season, pretty much all singles,” Kremer said. “He beat me there. I thought I made a pretty good pitch there, and he beat me.”
A dazzling catch by Athletics centerfielder Denzel Clarke prevented two runs from scoring in the fourth. Coby Mayo and Carlson walked, and Jorge Mateo’s drive was caught after an extended run by Clarke, who ran into the wall and kept the score at 4-3.
“There’s not a lot of guys that make that play,” Mansolino said. “That’s a play that, I don’t know if he’ll ever make that play again, to be honest with you. That’s a dynamite play. It’s incredible. It was a game-changing play, you know? So, it’s a credit to him and to that team, that was really good.”
Holliday’s first home run against a left-hander this season, leading off the fifth inning, tied it at 4.
The Athletics (25-40) took a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the fifth on Brent Rooker’s RBI single. On the previous pitch, Rooker popped up down the first base line, and the ball fell foul just in front of Mayo, who had his back to the plate.
Mayo’s first career extra-base hit, a double, put runners on second and third with one out in the sixth. Colton Cowser had to stop at third after holding up at second to see if Mayo’s drive would be caught. Grant Holman then struck out Carlson and Mateo to end the threat.
The Orioles had chances to score in the final four innings but couldn’t. In the seventh, Laureano reached on an error and moved to second on a wild pitch by T.J. McFarland before Ryan O’Hearn struck out.
In the eighth, the Orioles loaded the bases with one out. Mason Miller struck out pinch-hitter Heston Kjerstad on three straight sliders and then struck out Holliday on a 103-mph fastball that was up and in.
Miller walked Laureano with one out in the ninth. O’Hearn, who was hitless in five at-bats, flied to left and Urías grounded out to Miller to end the game and the winning streak.
“I looked up on the board, and I think it said nine left on base maybe at the end, and I immediately subtracted the three from the eighth inning because I’m not so sure it counts against that guy,” Mansolino said. “Really impressive, Mason Miller, just coming in.
“I think it was 103.1, is what we saw. As a hitter, if I’m standing in the box, I’m probably cheating and swinging at the fastball. If it happens to be the slider, I’m probably not going to look good, and it kind of happened right there to a couple of our guys. I think we can all understand that.”
What kind of a night was it for Holliday? Holliday had two extra-base hits against Sears and now has three on the season. His home run was his first against a lefty in 2025.
“Just coming here, talked to Gunnar. Gunnar had some success against him,” Holliday said. “Just kind of trying to lean on him, how to handle a guy like that. Yeah, got the first at-bat, swung through some sliders I thought I could hit and then made the adjustment. Kind of thought he would throw me a heater just based off the swings I was taking, and I was able to jump him. Yeah, it’s a good confidence builder facing lefties. I’m just happy with the at-bats today.”
In the seventh with Wilson on first, Rooker popped up, and Mateo, playing shortstop while Henderson rested, encroached on Holliday’s territory on the right of the second base bag. The ball dropped, and Mateo threw to Holliday for the force.
“I think we might have called it at the same time,” Holliday said. “But won’t happen again. Just one of those weird moments where you both kind of call it and you obviously want to get the out, but glad we were able to get the out anyway.”
What does it mean? The Orioles played a sloppy game, and it shouldn’t be surprising they lost.
What’s the stat of the day? The Orioles didn’t score in the final four innings against the Athletics’ bullpen, which had a 6.25 ERA entering the game.
What’s the word? “You know, at the time, it was probably the coolest stadium I had ever played in, and then, being in the big leagues a little bit now and then coming back, it’s a different experience. It’s definitely not something I had on my radar.”-Carlson on playing close to home.
What’s going on in the minor leagues? Nestor German, Preston Johnson and Gerald Ogando combined on a three-hitter as Double-A Chesapeake beat Akron, 2-0. The Baysox had just two hits.
High-A Aberdeen managed just two hits in its 6-0 loss to Hudson Valley. Catcher Cole Urman was promoted to the IronBirds.
Yeiber Cartaya pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out eight as Single-A Delmarva beat Fredericksburg, 2-1.
Triple-A Norfolk’s game with Louisville was rained out.
What’s next? Charlie Morton (2-7, 6.20) will face Luis Severino (1-5, 4.54) on Saturday night at 10:05.
Call for questions: Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com