BALTIMORE — The mini-vacation was over. The time to return to work had come.
The Orioles held an non-compulsory exercise at Camden Yards on Thursday, a day earlier than the second half of the 2023 season was set to get underway. Attendance might not have been obligatory, however numerous gamers nonetheless confirmed up.
With the All-Star break winding down, the O’s have been able to go once more — and for good motive. Baltimore was top-of-the-line golf equipment in baseball through the first half, which it ended on a five-game successful streak.
“Guys are wanting to get back after it,” supervisor Brandon Hyde mentioned Friday afternoon. “I think the energy level in our clubhouse is great. I love the way we finished the first half. … That was a good feeling going into the break.”
Baltimore (55-35) minimize its deficit within the American League East standings to 1 1/2 video games behind first-place Tampa Bay (58-35), which was idle on account of a rainout in Kansas City. The O’s are additionally now a season-high 20 video games above .500 — their highest mark for the reason that finish of the 2014 marketing campaign, once they have been 96-66.
“The break was great,” Kremer mentioned, “but everybody was itching to get back.”
Kremer, who fanned a career-high 10 batters over seven dominant innings in a win vs. the Yankees in his ultimate begin of the primary half, turned in one other terrific exhibiting. His lone blemish got here within the third, when he gave up a two-out RBI single to Bryan De La Cruz. However, the right-hander bounced again by placing out Jesús Sánchez, as Miami left the bases loaded.
That started a stretch through which Kremer retired 9 consecutive Marlins batters, and 10 of the ultimate 11 he confronted, because the 27-year-old recorded his third high quality begin in 4 outings.
The sport was tied at 1 till the fourth, when each Mullins and Frazier hit solo pictures off Miami starter Sandy Alcantara. Mullins opened the inning along with his ninth homer of the 12 months, which was his first since May 23 (previous to a 3 1/2-week stint on the injured checklist on account of a proper groin pressure). Frazier’s house run was his eleventh of the season, setting a brand new profession excessive.
Not lengthy after, Frazier hit his twelfth homer of 2023, because the 31-year-old second baseman belted a two-run blast within the eighth for his first multi-HR efficiency in 905 profession huge league video games.
There have been many causes for the Orioles’ sturdy play. Frazier’s energy has been among the many most surprising, because it’s not one thing Baltimore was anticipating to get when it signed him to a one-year, $8 million deal this previous offseason.
“Yeah, it’s surprising.” Hyde mentioned. “For him to get some big homers like this for us this year, it’s been huge for us.”
Frazier’s first homer on Friday traveled a Statcast-projected 413 ft — his first this season to go greater than 397. It was tied for the fifth longest of his 55 profession house runs.
Frazier’s second house run might have been shorter (396), however it was the extra essential of the 2. In the highest of the eighth, the Marlins had minimize the Orioles’ result in 3-2 on Jorge Soler’s solo shot off Yennier Cano, earlier than Frazier answered along with his two-run homer within the backside of the inning.
Both of the blasts may be attributed to the work achieved within the batting cage all 12 months by Frazier, who can inform one thing particular could also be occurring in Baltimore this season.
“We know we’re good. We have a really dangerous lineup, from one through nine to even every guy on the bench is dangerous. The guys pitching, they’ve shown up all year long,” Frazier mentioned. “We know we’re a complete team, but we’re going to take it one day at a time and see where we’re at at the end of this thing.”
With massive targets in sight, the O’s proceed to have enjoyable of their pursuit of their first postseason berth since 2016, which they have been desirous to resume.
“We’ve got another half,” Kremer mentioned, “and we’re hoping to produce the same thing we did the first half.”
Content Source: www.mlb.com