Dean Kremer wore the high socks again and delivered eight innings of work, but it wasn’t enough as the Orioles fell 1-0 to the Seattle Mariners at Camden Yards in front of 19,356 fans. It was Kremer’s 24th appearance and 23rd start, the most among Baltimore’s rotation, and he continued to establish himself as a durable arm for the club.
Durability is turning into a point of pride for Kremer. He took the ball and, as he has promised, tried to be an innings-eater for a team dealing with a rash of injuries and a lineup under pressure to produce. He allowed a run in the first inning and then kept the Mariners off the board through eight innings, while totaling five hits and 101 pitches. His eight-inning effort marked a season high, lowering his ERA to 4.17 and extending his streak of completing seven innings in seven of his starts.
“He’s been awesome,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said. “Talked about like the new school and the old school. That’s definitely the old-school part of him. Go out there and throw eight strong innings right there.”
The Mariners, riding an eight-game win streak and 10 of 11 overall, managed just enough to win. George Kirby outdueled Kremer, firing seven scoreless innings on three hits, with no walks and seven strikeouts. Kirby’s efficiency and rhythm left Orioles hitters with little room to maneuver, even as Kremer worked efficiently himself and kept Baltimore within striking distance.
The game’s lone run came on Randy Arozarena’s leadoff single and stolen base in the first, followed by Josh Naylor’s two-out RBI single. Kremer later navigated an infield-heavy sequence in the second when a fielder’s choice helped limit further damage, and he retired 10 of the first 11 batters in a compact, fast-paced start.
Kremer’s eight-inning stint was the longest by an Orioles pitcher since a complete game against the Astros in September 2022. After the eighth, Kremer and pitching coach Drew French met the plate with Kremer finishing at 101 pitches. Mansolino noted the decision not to send Kremer back out for the ninth hinged on bullpen usage and the state of relief arms, even as Kremer’s performance earned hugs from the crowd and his teammates.
While the Orioles produced five hits for the night, they struggled to string together multi-hit innings against Kirby and a steady Mariners defense. Dylan Carlson snapped his 0-for-35 streak with a third-inning infield single, the longest drought by an Orioles primary position player since Gus Triandos in 1962, and the club got a hustle double from Gunnar Henderson in the fourth, though Henderson was stranded.
Andrés Muñoz issued a walk to Henderson in the ninth before giving up an opposite-field single to Adley Rutschman and a near-walk-off homer by Ryan Mountcastle that narrowly stayed foul. Mountcastle later bounced out to end the threat as Baltimore finished with five hits in the game and 60 players used this season, two shy of the franchise record set in 2021.
Injury notes and roster movements also peppered the night. Albert Suárez made his first injury rehab start at Double-A Chesapeake, allowing four runs in two innings, and Kevin McGonigle hit a two-run homer earlier in the evening at the lower levels. Shortstop Wehiwa Aloy led off and collected a couple of hits for Class A Delmarva, with top prospect Ike Irish reaching base a few times as well.
Commenting on the top of the Orioles’ order, Mansolino accepted the pressure but emphasized accountability. “If we’re going to be a team that wins in the playoffs, those five guys are going to have pressure on them,” he said. “One through nine we’ve just got to do probably a better job of working some deeper counts and stringing together some at-bats.”
Mountcastle, reflecting after the game, echoed the need to stay the course. “We don’t feel any more pressure. We just have to go out there, put together some good at-bats, and hopefully we can get that going tomorrow.”
What this means going forward is clear: Kremer’s durability remains a bright spot for Baltimore as they navigate a season of injuries and lineup churn. The Orioles will look to turn Kremer’s strong start into more runs, aiming to break through against opponents with a sharper offensive approach and better late-game execution.
Summary
– Orioles 0, Mariners 1; Kremer eight innings, one run on first inning, 101 pitches, ERA 4.17.
– George Kirby eight-plus innings of scoreless ball; Mariners win streak extended to eight.
– Key moments included Dylan Carlson ending an 0-for-35 streak and a near-walk-off by Mountcastle.
– Orioles used 60 players this season; top-of-lineup pressure acknowledged, with a call to improve at-bats and traffic.
– Kremer’s performance provides a hopeful note for Baltimore’s durability amid a challenging stretch.
Additional value
– If you’re updating a season-long feature on Kremer, consider adding a sidebar that tracks his eight-inning outings and his efficiency metrics (pitches per inning, strikeouts per nine, ground ball rate) to illustrate his growing role as a dependable workhorse.
– For readers following the Orioles’ injury situation, include a quick roster chart showing which regulars have been sidelined and the expected return windows to help set expectations for the rest of the season.