Holliday’s grand slam keys Orioles’ 9-1 win over Guardians

BALTIMORE—What happened? After a night off against a left-handed starter, Jackson Holliday broke an 0-for-17 slump with a grand slam in the second inning in a 9-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians before 13,964 at Oriole Park on Wednesday night.

Holliday’s second career grand slam, and second home run of the season, was the Orioles’ scoring until the seventh. Fortunately, Oriole starter Dean Kremer gave them 5 1/3 innings, allowing only Gabriel Arías’ third-inning home run.

Holliday’s wife, Chloé, and their dog, Coconut, a Bernedoodle, attended the game on “Bark at the Park” night, and he noted that he’d done well in the minor leagues on dog nights.

“I enjoy dogs, my family has a bunch of them. It’s always fun to play on Bark at the Park,” he said.

Through 17 games, the Orioles are 7-10. They’ve yet to win consecutive games or a series, which they’ll try to do on Thursday night.

“I think a little up and down,” Holliday said about the Orioles’ season. “We’ve shown some signs of being a super awesome team and playing really well together and our offense really playing well, and we’ve struggled at the same time. But overall, I think we’ve taken good at-bats and hit the ball hard, and sometimes, you just hit it at people.

“So I don’t really know how to gauge it on just [17] games, or however many we’ve played, but I think we’re fine. I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. I think we’re hitting the ball hard, and I think it’ll come.”

Kremer (2-2) gave up the home run, four hits, walked one and struck out two.

Bryan Baker pitched a scoreless 1 1/3 innings, allowing two hits.

Gregory Soto allowed José Ramírez’s double and Carlos Santana’s single to begin the eighth. Yennier Cano struck out Jhonkensy Noel and walked Nolan Jones to load the bases.

Angel Martinez grounded back to Cano, who threw home to Adley Rutschman to force Ramírez. Jones was ruled out for interference running to first for the third out.

Ramon Laureano, inserted into the lineup after Tyler O’Neill was scratched with neck discomfort, homered in the seventh against Gavin Williams (1-1.)

The Orioles added four runs in the eighth on Ryan O’Hearn’s home run, a two-run single by Heston Kjerstad and a sacrifice fly by Ramón Urias.

Manager Brandon Hyde said that O’Neill’s injury was day-to-day.

How did Kjerstad save the day? In the top of the sixth, after Ramón Laureano allowed Kyle Manzado’s fly ball to drop in front of him, Kjerstad, who was playing right field after O’Neill was scratched, ran down Angel Martinez’s drive and made a running catch that ended with a dive to end the inning.

“I’m just running as hard as I can to see if I can make the play and as I got closer I knew I had a good shot at catching it,” Kjerstad said. “Being able to make a nice play behind our pitcher in a game that’s still close at that time is really good for the team and it was good momentum for us.”

Hyde was thrilled with the catch.

“Huge play, probably the play of the game,” he said. “We had a couple of misplays. We haven’t done a great job of making plays, honestly to get pitchers out of innings and Heston made a play.

“It was a massive play. If that ball falls, a lot of things could happen, bullpen sets up differently etc., and to see him go get that ball in the right-center field gap, that was a huge play at the time, huge play in the game.”

How well did Kremer pitch? Kremer had an 8.16 ERA in his first three starts and lowered it to 6.41.

“I’m going to approach it like every other outing,” Kremer said. “If I’m thinking about anything exterior other than getting guys out, I think I’m in the wrong head space. So, just try to approach every game like it’s another game, regardless of whether we’re crushing it or scuffling.”

Hyde liked what he saw from Kremer.

“I thought Kremer really competed,” Hyde said. “A lot of foul ball wars, he stayed in the at-bats really well, kept throwing strikes, he only walked one. That’s a scrappy team that puts the ball in play, and I thought he mixed well even with some frustrating at-bats, possibly, because they were fouling off some tough pitches.

“He stayed after it. He did a great job getting into the sixth inning, then got his pitch count up because of all the foul balls, but I thought he competed extremely well tonight. Best start of the year for him.”

What does it mean? While it’s still early in the season, it’s imperative that the Orioles finally win consecutive games and a series by winning on Thursday night.

What’s the word?  “Any time you make a web gem play like that, that’s what you play the game for. That’s a lot of fun to be able to make a play like that for the team, help us win the game and everything like that.”-Kjerstad on his catch.

What’s going on in the minor leagues? Rightfielder Dylan Beavers homered twice, catcher Maverick Handley, first baseman Coby Mayo and designated hitter TT Bowens also hit home runs as Triple-A Norfolk beat Omaha, 15-6.

Designated hitter Silas Ardoin, first baseman Adam Retzbach, second baseman Frederick Bencosme and catcher Creed Willems homered, and shortstop Jeremiah Jackson drove in three runs as Double-A Chesapeake beat Richmond, 10-6.

Braxton Bragg threw seven scoreless innings, allowing three hits, as High-A Aberdeen beat Brooklyn, 2-1. The IronBirds had just two hits.

Cohen Achen allowed one run on two hits in six innings as Single-A Delmarva beat Carolina, 6-3. Centerfielder Braylin Tavera and catcher Yasmil Bucce homered.

What’s the stat of the game? 2.  Holliday has the same number of grand slams as Gunnar Henderson, Ryan Mountcastle and Adley Rutschman.

What’s next? Tomoyuki Sugano (1-1, 3.86) will face Tanner Bibee (1-1, 4.40) on Thursday night at 6:35

Call for questions: Most weekdays, I answer Orioles questions. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.