KANSAS CITY, Mo. — On Friday, during the initial two innings, the Orioles managed to score twice as many runs against the Royals as they did throughout both games of their matchup in last season’s American League wildcard series.
The sole issue was that the outcome remained unchanged: a defeat.
Dean Kremer had trouble generating swings and misses, his defense faltered, and Baltimore’s hitters failed to score during the last seven innings, resulting in the Orioles' loss to the Royals with a score of 8-2.
Following their third consecutive defeat, Baltimore stands at 3-5 for the brief season so far. The last instance when the Orioles found themselves two games under .500 was back in July 2022.
Before the game, Manager Brandon Hyde stated that his team was not dwelling on the frustration from last October when their season concluded with narrow defeats against the Royals at Camden Yards due to low scores.
It truly is one day at a time," Hyde stated. "That's the common saying, which might seem dull, but it holds true nonetheless. Last year stays in the past; we shouldn't concern ourselves with it. This year brings an entirely fresh start and a revamped team dynamic. Our focus should be solely on trying to secure a single victory and aiming to take each series.
If the Orioles want to achieve that, they'll have to play more sharply than they did on Friday.
The Royals' initial score came from a double hit by Salvador Perez that should have been snagged in the outfield. The left fielder, Heston Kjerstad, failed to grab the ball after possibly misjudging the high fly ball against the backdrop of the overcast sky as raindrops descended.
Kremer surrendered two additional runs, with one being unearned due to an error by Gunnar Henderson upon his return from the injured list at shortstop during the fourth inning. This occurred after Maikel Garcia hit a single, giving the Royals the lead which they maintained throughout the game.
Kremer, who was replaced after recording only one out in the fifth inning, struggled to induce missed swings against the aggressive Royals lineup, managing just five whiffs and securing only one strikeout in his defeat. In his first two appearances as Baltimore’s third-string pitcher, he conceded eight runs over 9.2 innings of work.
In Baltimore's only scoring period of the game, which occurred during the second inning, Kjerstad compensated for his fielding error by hitting an RBI single to the opposite field. The team might have tallied two runs, but Jonathan India intercepted Tyler O'Neill at home plate after O'Neill attempted to evade the tag while remaining upright rather than sliding. Later in the game, Kjerstad crossed home plate due to a throwing miscue by Garcia at third base, briefly putting the Orioles ahead 2-1.
Following strong relief appearances by Gregory Soto (who pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings) and Seranthony DomÃnguez (recording two strikeouts over one scoreless frame), Cionel Pérez’s difficulties persisted as he allowed the Royals to score five runs off three hits and a walk during the eighth inning. In his first four games of the season, the southpaw has posted an ERA of 19.64 and a WHIP of 3.55.
Instant analysis
The Orioles' pitching staff isn't strong enough to compensate for the level of defense the team exhibited on Friday.
Without having an ace like Corbin Burnes or emerging talents such as the hurt Kyle Bradish and Grayson Rodriguez, the room for error within Baltimore’s pitching lineup is minimal. This became evident on Friday when Kjerstad, Henderson, and O'Neill each committed defensive errors that harmed Kremer.
In four plate appearances against Kremer where the projected batting average was under .240, the hitters managed to reach base successfully each time. This included a fly ball that Kjerstad failed to catch, which allowed the initial run to score, as well as Henderson’s error that prolonged Kansas City’s two-run rally in the fourth inning.
During the fourth and fifth innings, Statcast indicated that O'Neill had a 90% chance of making these catches on two fly balls, yet he failed to secure either one due to inadequate leaps totaling a negative-21-foot distance. After enduring a chilly day with continuous rainfall in Kansas City, the adverse weather conditions affected him significantly, preventing him from recovering adequately following those subpar starts.
Hyde frequently boasts about his team's defense being filled with potential Gold Glove winners across the field, yet it appeared quite differently on Friday.
On deck
Tomoyuki Sugano’s initial Major League Baseball start came to an early end due to hand cramps. Hyde hopes that he will be the one determining when Sugano should stop pitching rather than relying on the player’s muscular spasms to make that call.
"Simply wishing he won't get that hand cramp and hopes he remains out there for as long as possible," Hyde stated.
Sugano will face right-hander Michael Wacha as the Royals aim to secure victory in the series before Sunday’s afternoon game.
Around the horn
— The Orioles reported that top prospect Samuel Basallo was taken out of Triple-A Norfolk’s game on Friday evening due to some uneasiness in his left hamstring. Basallo, who ranks as the premier catching prospect in all of baseball, demonstrated this talent during major league spring training.
Before High-A Aberdeen's opening game on Friday, the IronBirds revealed that top pitching prospect Luis De León will start his season on the injured list. The team hasn’t specified which injury he has sustained. According to Baseball America, De León ranks as Baltimore’s 15th-best prospect.
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