The Orioles scored 10 runs and had 14 hits in the first six innings of a doubleheader and entered the top of the seventh with a three-run lead and Tyler Wells on the mound.
Wells, who had pitched brilliantly in his new role as closer gave up the lead and surrendered four runs in the seventh as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Orioles 11-10 in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday.
Teoscar Hernández began the inning with a double. Wells (2-2) walked Corey Dickerson. Hernández scored on Lourdes Gurriel’s single, and Dickerson scored on Jake Lamb’s sacrifice fly.
After Danny Jansen flied to left, George Springer hit an 0-1 pitch for his 17th homer and an 11-10 lead.
“I think he’s facing a really good team,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “Tyler Wells isn’t going to be perfect. This is his rookie year. He’s facing some really good hitters, kind of left the pitches up and out.”
Nate Pearson (1-1) pitched two scoreless innings, and Jordan Romano worked the seventh for his 17th save. Toronto is 78-63.
The Orioles hoped that Dean Kremer’s two months at Triple-A Norfolk would give him the needed experience to be an effective major league starter.
Kremer, who was sent to Norfolk after allowing six runs to the Toronto Blue Jays and retiring just one batter on June 24, was just 1-5 with a 6.33 with the Tides, though his last outing there was just fine. He pitched five scoreless innings, giving up three hits without a walk and striking out five.
He allowed five runs on seven hits in four innings, walking one and striking out two.
“My last time here was a complete meltdown, so I’m definitely trending in the right direction,” Kremer said. “Going down there I got a chance to clear my head and back off a little bit and ease the pressure on me a little bit and got back to what makes me and good and build off that.”
The Orioles supported Kremer well, but he allowed five runs in four innings, and wasn’t in the game long enough to qualify for the win.
“I thought he showed flashes,” Hyde said “This is a really tough team to pitch against. They have some young superstars. They have really good veteran players in the lineup who understand how to take an [at-bat] and are extremely dangerous.”
Hyde isn’t sure if Kremer showed measurable improvement from when he last saw him.
“It’s tough to tell because this offense is so hard. It’s a tough one to pitch against, especially for a young pitcher who’s navigating his way through the big leagues,” he said. “He can build on this and keep his confidence and continue.”
The Orioles (46-95) had plenty of offense. Austin Hays hit two home runs, Anthony Santander and Ryan Mountcastle added homers, but it wasn’t enough
Santander’s two-run home run, his 16th, against Hyun Jin Ryu in the first. Gurriel’s two-run homer, his 17th against Kremer in the second tied it.
The Orioles took a 5-2 lead in the second when Pedro Severino led off with a single, and with one out, Kelvin Gutiérrez doubled. Richie Martin scored Severino with an infield out, and Hays homered, his 17th. The home run extended Hays’ hitting streak to 17 games.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s 43rd home run in the third cut the Orioles’ lead to 5-3.
In the fourth, Ryan McKenna’s two-run double with the bases loaded ended Ryu’s day and put the Orioles ahead 7-3.
Ryu allowed seven runs on eight hits in 2 1/3 innings. It was his shortest start since April 8, 2019.
Jansen’s eighth home run, a two-run homer in the fourth, cut the Orioles lead to 7-5.
Hays hit his second homer of the game to lead off the fourth against Ross Stripling. Mountcastle followed with his 27th home run for a 9-5 lead. Mountcastle is tied with Eddie Murray (1977) for second-most home runs by an Orioles rookie. Cal Ripken Jr. (28 in 1982) holds the record.
Marcos Diplán replaced Kremer for the fifth, and recorded two outs, but allowed two runs on a single by Lamb. Dillon Tate retired Jansen on a fly to right, ending the fifth.
Notes: Keegan Akin (2-8, 7.00) faces Thomas Hatch (0-0, 7.36) in the second game. …Severino equaled his season high with a three-hit game. …Diplán was optioned to Norfolk after the game and Spenser Watkins was recalled. …It was the fifth time this season the Orioles hit four or more home runs.
Minor League update: Kyle Bradish allowed a run on three hits in five innings as Triple-A Norfolk beat Durham 3-1 in the first game of a doubleheader.
Bradish (4-5) walked three and struck out five.
Centerfielder Yusniel Diaz had two hits, including an RBI triple. Diaz is batting .173.
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