Dean Kremer pitched six no-hit innings, Gunnar Henderson homered again and the Baltimore Orioles defeated the visiting Tampa Bay Rays 2-0 on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series.
Kremer (7-9) struck out seven and walked three in his sterling effort before needing help.
The Orioles (82-60) have won three of four games in the homestand. Baltimore has won nine of 11 meetings with the Rays (69-72) this year.
Junior Caminero’s single to begin the seventh broke up the no-hit bid. The Rays went on to load the bases with no outs off Kremer before Yennier Cano arrived from the bullpen to strike out Jonny DeLuca and Jose Caballero and induce Ben Rortvedt’s pop-out.
Tampa Bay had two runners on base with one out in the ninth against Seranthony Dominguez, who ended up with his ninth save. Both runners moved up on stolen bases with two outs before Rortvedt popped out to end the game.
Shane Baz gave the Rays a strong effort from the mound, lasting six innings and allowing two runs, one earned. He gave up two hits and issued three walks while striking out three. Baz (2-3) had won his two previous starts.
Henderson’s 36th homer of the season was a solo shot in the sixth, giving him three home runs this month. He had two of Baltimore’s four hits.
The Orioles scored in the fifth without a hit. Colton Cowser and Cedric Mullins drew walks and Cowser ended up at third base on catcher Rortvedt’s throwing error. Jackon Holliday delivered a sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead.
Neither team had a hit through three innings, and then the Rays had a runner reach second base when Junior Caminero walked in the fourth and moved to second on a groundout. That was the extent of the threat.
Henderson led off the bottom of the fourth with a single for the game’s first hit.
DeLuca led off the fifth with a walk, but was caught stealing for the first out. The Rays got another runner to second base with two outs in the eighth, but Dominguez struck out Caminero.
–Field Level Media
