Gunnar Henderson hit a two-run homer in the first inning, Dean Kremer ended a four-start losing streak, and the Baltimore Orioles earned a 4-1 win over Washington on Wednesday night to split their two-game series.
Kremer (5-9) pitched better than DJ Herz (2-5), giving up one run and five hits over six innings. Yennier Cano and Cionel Pérez each pitched a perfect inning in relief, and Seranthony Domínguez finished the game with a hitless ninth inning to earn his second save since joining the Orioles before the trade deadline.
This was the first time the Orioles’ bullpen had gone scoreless in six games. In the previous five games, the relievers had allowed 11 runs in 14 innings.
It was also the first time the bullpen had a hitless game since July 19.
“It felt like a normal baseball game. We haven’t played many of them,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “We pitched really well, we were solid defensively. Gunnar’s huge hit early, and then a nice little rally there late in the game.”
Herz allowed two runs and four hits in six innings.
Henderson’s 30th home run of the year gave Baltimore a 2-0 lead, which turned out to be enough. The only run for the Nationals came in the second inning on Alex Call’s RBI double. Anthony Santander almost made a running catch in right field, but the ball slipped in and out of his glove.
Baltimore was half a game behind the Yankees in the AL East standings, with New York playing in Chicago on Wednesday night.
Coby Mayo of Baltimore got his first major league hit with a single to left in the fifth inning after starting 0-for-16.
“Sigh of relief, for sure,” Mayo said. “I was never too stressed about the hit, but then it gets to you a little bit.”
