A Bullpen Letdown In Minnesota
What Dean Kremer accomplished by facing twenty-five batters on Thursday, the bullpen squashed in eight batters. Kremer gave the Baltimore Orioles 7.0 solid innings of work, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits (1 homerun given up) while walking 2 and striking out 8. He threw 86 pitches, 57 for strikes, in his second consecutive start of 7.0 innings. Since he left the game with the score tied at 2, Kremer received a no-decision for his effort; at least the bullpen didn’t cost him a win.
Yennier Cano (0.1 IP, 2 R, 2 BB, K) began the eighth inning by walking Harrison Bader. He recorded a strikeout before walking Byron Buxton, putting runners on first and second. Gregory Soto (0.2 IP, R, 2 H, BB, 2 K) relieved Cano and immediately recorded a strikeout before giving up a two-run double to Brooks Lee, allowing both inherited runners to score. A single allowed Lee to score before Soto ended the inning with a punch-out.
Two Orioles groundouts and a strikeout in the ninth tagged Cano (0-2) with the loss. The Orioles, losers of five straight (tied for their longest losing streak since May 2022) have now lost twelve of their last sixteen games. The Minnesota Twins swept the Birds with their 5-2 win.
The start of the game looked like it might be different as the Orioles answered a 1-0 deficit after one inning with runs in both the second and third innings. They maintained that lead until Trevor Larnach tied it with a sixth inning homerun.
The loss is not totally on the bullpen, however, as the O’s left 9 runners on base while going 2 for 13 with runners in scoring position and striking out 11 times.
Emmanuel Rivera went 3 for 4 with 2 doubles and 1 RBI and was called out at home in the sixth trying to score from second on a Gunnar Henderson (1 for 5) single; the call was close and was upheld upon review.
Ramon Laureano went 1 for 3 with a double, a run scored and a walk.
Jackson Holliday, batting out of the two hole, went 1 for 5 with a run scored.
Ryan Mountcastle went 1 for 3 with a double and 1 RBI.
Maverick Handley (1 for 3) recorded his first MLB hit and Cody Mayo (1 for 4) recorded his first hit of the 2025 MLB season.
The bullpen failure may also have increased the heat on Manager Brandon Hyde‘s seat as the Pittsburgh Pirates (12-26), losers of seven straight, dismissed manager Derek Shelton earlier in the day.
2025 Record: 13-23
Next Game: Fri. 5/9 @ 9:38 pm vs. LA Angels in Anaheim