BALTIMORE—What happened? The Orioles got their second straight short start and lost for the second straight game, 11-5 to the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday.
Dean Kremer’s four-inning start followed Tyler Wells’ four-inning effort on Friday night, when the Orioles were beaten, 11-1.
Kremer allowed a career-high eight runs, six earned, on 10 hits. The Orioles have allowed 22 runs in the two losses to Milwaukee. Corbin Burnes, who was acquired from Milwaukee in the trade for DL Hall and Joey Ortiz, will try to prevent the sweep on Sunday.
“After playing an extra-inning game [against Boston] and then a short start [Friday] night, I was hoping he could get us a little deeper,” manager Brandon Hyde said about Kremer. “But he didn’t.”
Ryan Mountcastle, Jordan Westburg and Adley Rutschman homered. It was Mountcastle’s second, Westburg’s third and Rutschman first of the season.
“Every day is a new day,” Rutschman said. “I believe in our team. We’re all about the process, and tomorrow we’re going to show up, ready to go.”
All the homers were hit against Hall, the former Oriole, who allowed five runs on eight hits in 3 1/3 innings. The Orioles had just four hits in 5 2/3 innings against the Brewers’ bullpen.
Jackson Holliday didn’t play after going hitless in 11 at-bats in his first three games with seven strikeouts. Manager Brandon Hyde said he wanted to give Hyde a breather.
What about Kremer? Kremer followed his one-run, five-hit outing in seven innings against Pittsburgh on April 7th with a disappointing effort.
“He wasn’t as sharp as he was the last few starts, and that’s going to happen,” Hyde said. “He did give up some soft contact for some hits that was a little bit unlucky. Trying to get through that fourth inning, he leaves a pitch down the middle to [Jake] Bauers.”
Kremer gave up a three-run homer to Bauers that put Milwaukke ahead, 8-5, and a solo shot to Rhys Hoskins.
“I think I didn’t command the glove side as well as I have been the last two outings,” Kremer said. “Everything was leaking arm-side. They put some good swings on it.”
What did Elias say about Austin Hays? Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias said that he wasn’t worried about outfielder Austin Hays, who broke an 0-for-26 streak with a third-inning single.
“He’s going to be fine,” Elias said. “One of the luxuries that we have with our roster is we have a lot of good players. When you have quantity, you tend to have a hot hand and a cold hand, sometimes. We have the luxury of being able to lean into that a little bit, and I think that’s what you saw the last few days.
“He’s been back in there. He’s hit some balls hard. They haven’t fallen. Early on in the season, everybody’s healthy. There’s always a lot of offdays in April, and it makes the normal rotation through a batting lineup, or who’s starting or who’s sitting that day, a little more of a noticeable thing and more of a story than it is later in the season when you have guys banged up, needing offdays, guys on the [injured list].
“We’ve got a ton of talented players. All 13 of these position players we have right now are starting-caliber guys. It’s not easy for our manager, but it’s something we value. He’s going to rotate through guys based on matchups, health, day-to-day, a little bit of hot and cold in there. This is all going to work itself out, and we’re going to look up and everyone’s going to have played a lot, and Austin Hays is going to have another good season, too.”
What did Elias say about the top prospects? Elias said he’s keeping a close eye on top prospects Heston Kjerstad, Coby Mayo, Connor Norby and Kyle Stowers at Norfolk.
“They’re off to sensational starts,” Elias said. “We’re watching every bit of it. Really proud of those guys. Really excited about them. A couple of them on the younger side, still learning some things on defense, still really ahead of their curve for the age group.
“The other couple of guys that have poked their heads up into the major leagues already, and they’re really doing everything asked of them at Triple-A. Once that happens, we start to do everything we can to accommodate players and look for opportunities for them. Baseball tends to take care of itself a little bit with injuries and just different matchups popping up.
“I’m sure their time is coming. We’re not going to sit there and watch players dominate a level for too long. It’s just not our style. We’re definitely keeping an eye on all those guys down there and I guarantee you that every single one of those plus many more players from Norfolk are going to come up and help this team at various points during the year.”
What’s the word? “They’re focused guys. They’re going to keep going. They’re going to wait for their name to be called, and they will be.”-Elias on the top Norfolk prospects.
What about the new owners? Elias is enthusiastic about working for David Rubenstein and the new ownership team.
“Really great. It’s really exciting energy,” Elias said. “David Rubenstein and Michael Arougheti, all of the guys in the group I’ve gotten to know going back into spring training. We’re getting into the flow of the season. We’re talking a lot. They have wonderful plans for the franchise. I think everybody in Baltimore, in Maryland, should be thrilled about the vision this group has laid out.
“I think it’s probably unusual to take over control of the team, literally or exactly on Opening Day. That’s what they did. They’re drinking out of the fire hose a little bit, season’s going. We’re all going 100 mph. Not everything is going to happen all at once. But we’ve settled into a really good communication flow. They’re really excited about the team and where everything is at and looking forward to more and more.”
What does it mean? After using the bullpen for 10 innings against the Brewers and 4 1/3 in Thursday’s night 10-inning win against Boston, the Orioles need Burnes to give them a lengthy start on Sunday.
What’s the stat of the day? 0.00. Keegan Akin threw another 1 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit. He’s given up three hits in eight shutout innings this season, walking out one and striking out 10.
What’s next? Burnes will face his old team when the Orioles try to avoid their first series sweep since May 13-15, 2022. Burnes (2-0, 1.93) and Colin Rae (2-0, 1.64) are the scheduled starters on Sunday. Game time is 1:35 p.m.
“It’s nice that we have Burnes going [Sunday],” Hyde said. “We’re hoping we can get a good start out of him. He’s been wonderful for us so far. I’m hoping that can continue.”
Burnes doesn’t find it strange to face the Brewers.
“Not at all. It’s friends that I’ve played with in the past,” Burnes said. “They’re former teammates. It’s the word ‘former’ for a reason. I’m here to win baseball games for the Baltimore Orioles and win a World Series for the Baltimore Orioles. I’m as frustrated as anyone else that we got our butts kicked [on Friday night].”
Burns was asked if he has an advantage against Milwaukee’s hitters because he knows them so well.
“I would say I have an advantage over every lineup,” Burnes said. “I would say I have a leg up on anyone I face.”
What happened in the minors? The Baysox split a doubleheader against Hartford. Shortstop Frederick Bencosme hit a three-run home run to lead Bowie to a 5-4 win in the first game. The Baysox lost the second game, 9-0, getting only three hits.
Single-A Delmarva shortstop Leandro Arias was removed from the Shorebirds’ game because of left leg discomfort.
What moves were made? The Orioles optioned right-hander Jonathan Heasley to Triple-A Norfolk and activated right-hander Yohan Ramírez, who was acquired from the New York Mets for cash considerations on Thursday.
“I would really like to be a part of this ballclub,” Ramírez said through an interpreter. “I know it’s a really competitive group, a team that wins a lot of ballgames. I really want to be a part of this and be able to support these guys, however I can to help them win more games.”
Ramírez allowed two runs on a hit in 1 2/3 innings, striking out two and walking one.
Infielder/outfielder Tony Kemp refused an outright assignment to Norfolk after clearing waivers and declared free agency.
Call for questions: I’ll be answering at least one question every weekday. Send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com