Orioles clobber Reds 11-1 for series sweep

Field Level Media|published: Sun 5th May, 19:06 2024

May 5, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Dean Kremer (64) pitches against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning at Great American Ball Park. credits: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

Dean Kremer allowed just one hit over six scoreless innings as the visiting Baltimore Orioles completed a three-game sweep with an 11-1 win over the punchless Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.

Kremer (3-2) was the latest Orioles pitcher to blank an anemic Cincinnati offense, allowing only a sharp single in the fifth, followed by a walk, to win his third straight start.

The right-hander retired the first 13 batters Sunday and finished with six strikeouts and one walk.

Kremer didn't allow a baserunner until Christian Encarnacion-Strand singled to center with one out in the fifth. Jonathan India worked a walk, and Nick Martini advanced both with a fly to center. But Kremer retired Santiago Espinal on a routine foul pop to first to end Cincinnati's only threat until the ninth inning.

Baltimore's three starters in the series, Cole Irvin, John Means and Kremer, threw 19 1/3 shutout innings and surrendered just six hits.

The Orioles' Anthony Santander belted his third career grand slam, had three hits and drove in five, while Jordan Westburg and Ryan McKenna added homers.

For the second straight game, Cincinnati avoided a shutout in the ninth and has scored a total of just eight runs in losing five straight games.

The Orioles got to Cincinnati starter and loser Nick Lodolo (3-1) with a two-out rally in the first.

Ryan Mountcastle doubled to left and Santander singled him home for a 1-0 Orioles lead. Westburg then lined the first he saw from Lodolo the opposite way to the seats in right for his sixth homer and a 3-0 Baltimore advantage.

Lodolo was tagged for four hits and four runs over five innings, striking out six and walking two.

The Orioles added a run in the fifth off Lodolo when Adley Rutschman doubled home Ramon Urias.

The Orioles made it 6-0 in the seventh off reliever Brent Suter when McKenna homered off the top of the left field wall, just beyond the reach of left fielder Spencer Steer. Rutschman added his second RBI of the day when he singled home Urias for a second time.

The Orioles scored five in the ninth, including four against Reds closer Alexis Diaz, who retired just one batter. The Reds broke the shutout after loading the bases with one out in the ninth, and Jake Fraley singled home Will Benson.

—Field Level Media