In a night filled with high hopes for the Baltimore Orioles, the matchup against the Oakland Athletics turned out to be a mixed bag, particularly for players with local ties. Adley Rutschman had previously impressed in Seattle, going 7-for-13 with two home runs, which set the stage for expectations surrounding Dean Kremer and Dylan Carlson, both of whom have strong ties to California.
Carlson delivered on the promise, hitting a home run in his first at-bat, contributing to the Orioles’ early 3-0 lead. His impressive performance also included two walks, showcasing his ability to get on base. In contrast, Kremer, who hails from Stockton, CA, struggled on the mound. He allowed five runs over 5 1/3 innings, marking his toughest outing since April.
The game saw the Orioles take a 3-0 lead courtesy of Carlson’s blast and a double from Jackson Holliday, followed by a sacrifice fly from Ramón Urías. However, Kremer’s third inning derailed their momentum. After struggling with his two-seam fastball, he surrendered three consecutive singles in the fifth inning, allowing the A’s to take the lead at 5-4.
Despite the early struggles, the Orioles managed to keep the game competitive. Their bats shone for a time, rallying for four early runs, largely thanks to Carlson and Holliday, but they were unable to capitalize in crucial moments. A lack of timely hitting was evident as they recorded just one hit in nine at-bats with runners in scoring position, which ultimately cost them chances to expand their lead.
As the game progressed, the A’s brought in Mason Miller, their star closer who made a significant impact, ultimately snuffing out any remaining hope for the Orioles as he secured a five-out save. The evening concluded with the Orioles unable to convert on scoring opportunities, leaving fans frustrated.
Moving forward, Kremer will look to improve in his next outing, while the team as a whole could benefit from refining their approach at the plate during critical moments. The presence of promising talents like Carlson and Holliday offers hope that the Orioles can bounce back and find consistency as they navigate the remainder of the season.