Robinson Chirinos may inform early, throughout the pregame bullpen session, that right-hander Dean Kremer wouldn’t pitch the way in which he did final week in opposition to the Houston Astros. In that final efficiency, Kremer hurled a shutout, establishing himself as a breakout starter for the Orioles and setting himself up for a spot within the 2023 rotation.
But a pitcher gained’t have their finest stuff each recreation, and Chirinos knew this was going to be a kind of video games. So the catcher approached the 26-year-old earlier than Wednesday night time’s 3-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox to remind him that as of late occur.
“Today’s the day you have to compete and grind and try to give this team a chance to win a game,” Chirinos mentioned.
That’s what Kremer did. But with none offensive assist behind him — barring an eighth-inning house run from Chirinos — the loss fell at Kremer’s ft. His command wasn’t there early, as he walked 4 batters whereas permitting three runs on six hits in 5 innings.
Kremer has a aggressive streak that doesn’t permit him to see the intense aspect fairly often; if an outing isn’t as much as his requirements, he’s not shy in vocalizing his disappointment. But there needed to be credit score the place it was due for the beginning pitcher, who overcame his lack of command to maintain Baltimore within the recreation.
“He battled through the first couple innings without his best command, just giving up minimal damage,” supervisor Brandon Hyde mentioned.
As the clock ticks down on the Orioles season, there are fewer alternatives to bounce again from performances corresponding to Wednesday night time’s.
Left-handed pitchers, corresponding to Red Sox starter Rich Hill, have been a kryptonite of kinds for the Orioles of late, and with out Cedric Mullins, Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson within the beginning lineup, there was a noticeable lack of manufacturing. There was a momentary alternative after Chirinos’ homer, his first since Aug. 3. And the tying run got here to the plate within the type of Rutschman within the ninth inning after a Henderson stroll. But Rutschman struck out to finish the competition, sealing a loss that dims already faint postseason hopes.
With seven video games remaining, the Orioles’ (80-75) magic quantity for elimination is all the way down to 4. The Seattle Mariners, who performed later Wednesday night time, maintain the tiebreaker, complicating a push for the ultimate American League wild-card spot.
“Last couple losses [have] been hard,” Chirinos mentioned. “If you’re looking back to spring training and where we started the season, I think everybody in that clubhouse should be proud of what we accomplished this year. We still have a chance, and that’s the only thing you can ask for.”
In Kremer’s shutout of the Astros, his curveball and cutter had been dominant, and he threw the breaking ball 25% of the time — about 13 share factors above his season common. Kremer hardly wanted to make use of his four-seam fastball in that outing.
But in opposition to the Red Sox, Kremer’s curveball hardly made an look; he used it 11% of the time and drew one whiff with it in comparison with the seven he recorded final week.
“I think everything, including the curveball, cutter, fastball, all of it, just weren’t coming out as crisp as last outing,” Kremer mentioned. “It was just a grind.”
The preliminary breakthrough got here within the first inning, when Alex Verdugo’s single scored Rafael Devers. A well-timed double play eradicated additional harm in that body, however Abraham Almonte and Verdugo later homered off Kremer earlier than left-hander Keegan Akin got here in two batters into the sixth inning.
Akin, who had been optioned Monday, returned Wednesday to supply a contemporary arm for the bullpen. He was pivotal for the Orioles in his return, overlaying the ultimate three innings with one hit allowed and two strikeouts. That saved the remainder of a taxed bullpen for Thursday afternoon’s sequence finale in opposition to Boston, with right-hander Mike Baumann on the mound.
“With where our bullpen is right now,” Hyde mentioned, “for Akin to do that, it was big for us tomorrow.”
The variety of tomorrows are dwindling for this crew, as one other loss in Boston — and the Orioles’ fourth in 5 video games — leaves them teetering. Until it’s over, although, Baltimore will maintain tight to the idea that there are nonetheless just a few tomorrows in any respect.
“You never know,” Chirinos mentioned. “You never know in this game what’s gonna happen.”
A season over
The season ended for infielder Ramón Urías between second and third base Tuesday night time, when he suffered a proper knee sprain. He was positioned on the 10-day injured record. In the clubhouse, his proper leg was wrapped in a mushy forged.
In extra of an on a regular basis position, the 28-year-old put collectively a strong yr in his third season with the Orioles. He hit .248 with 16 homers and a .720 OPS. Hyde mentioned Urías’ means at third base was additionally spectacular.
“In batting practice, he’s got a lot of power to right-center, right field, and that’s what we’ve seen for the last couple years,” Hyde mentioned. “He can back side a ball as well as anybody. But for me this year, taking the next step, being able to pull the ball with a little more authority.”
Hyde mentioned in the long run, Urías “will be fine.” But the damage is an “unfortunate” technique to finish his season.
Around the horn
- Akin, right-hander Beau Sulser and infielder Tyler Nevin had been recalled to the Orioles on Wednesday whereas right-handers Joey Krehbiel and Jake Reed had been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.
- Norfolk completed its season Wednesday with a loss to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. The Tides ended the yr at 74-76.
- Ryan Mountcastle was moved late from first base to designated hitter Wednesday, then struck out 4 occasions. Asked whether or not every part’s OK with Mountcastle, Hyde mentioned “it was just a late switch, and he should be fine.”
ORIOLES@RED SOX
Thursday, 1:35 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com