The Baltimore Orioles lost 6-3 to the Houston Astros in front of a national audience on ESPN as well as 21,654 fans in Camden Yards Sunday night. There was no late game comeback from the Birds but rather the anemic offense reared its ugly head again. The Orioles were limited to a miniscule two hits on the night. The loss gave the Birds a split in the four-game series with the Astros.

All of the Orioles’ hits came in the fifth inning. Eloy Jimenez (1 for 4, 1 R) led off the inning with a single, Emmanuel Rivera (0 for 0, 1 R, 2 BB) worked a one-out walk and then Ramon Urias (1 for 3, HR, 1 R, 1 RBI) hit his 9th homerun of the season 416 ft. into the Baltimore bullpen.

Unfortunately, the bullpen wasted a quality start by Dean Kremer. Kremer, who tossed 92 pitches (61 strikes), allowed 3 runs on 7 hits while walking 2 and striking out 5 over 6.0 innings. A scoreless bottom of the sixth tagged Kremer with a no-decision.

Burch Smith (4-1) relieved Kremer and gave up two out back-to-back homeruns to Alex Bregman and Yandy Diaz to be tagged in the end with the loss.

Cionel Perez, who caught the Urias homer in his hat (the 6th such catch of the season), allowed 1 unearned run on 1 hit, walked 1 and struck out 1 in the eighth inning.

Matt Bowman struck out 2 of the 3 batters he faced in the ninth inning.

BOX SCORE

2024 Record: 76-56

Next Game: Tues. 8/27 vs. Dodgers in Los Angeles @ 10:10 pm