The Baltimore Orioles picked up a 6-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers at Ed Smith Stadium on Thursday in spring training action. Tyler O'Neill paced the offense, going 3-for-3 with a home run and an RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. Dean Kremer worked 2.2 innings on the mound, allowing 2 earned runs on 5 hits. The Orioles finished with 15 hits on the day while holding the Tigers to 9. The Orioles will take confidence from a well-rounded effort on both sides of the ball. Spring training is about building toward the regular season, and this was a step in the right direction.
Key Performers
Tyler O'Neill was the standout at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a home run and an RBI. His power was on full display throughout the game. The Orioles will be hoping for more of the same as the spring continues.
Coby Mayo added to the attack, going 2-for-2 with a double and two RBI, Jeremiah Jackson provided support, going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI, and Jordan Sanchez also contributed, going 1-for-1 with an RBI. Multiple contributors at the plate made life difficult for the opposing pitching staff.
On the other side of the diamond, Eduardo Valencia led the Tigers offense with a 1-for-2 with a home run and two RBI day. Carson Rucker also contributed, going 1-for-1 with a home run and an RBI. Colt Keith added a 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Orioles pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Dean Kremer got the start, running into trouble, working 2.2 innings while allowing 2 earned runs on 5 hits with one strikeout. He threw 47 pitches in the outing. The coaching staff will review his performance as they continue mapping out the pitching plan for the regular season.
The bullpen combined for 5.4 innings of work, allowing 3 earned runs while striking out two. The Orioles continue to sort through their relief options as they build their Opening Day bullpen. Every inning pitched in the spring is an opportunity for pitchers to make their case for a spot on the roster when the games start counting.
Among the relievers, Trey Gibson stood out with 2.2 innings of 3-run work, striking out two. It was an impressive showing that could factor into roster decisions.
How It Happened
The Orioles struck first, plating a run in the first inning. Tigers responded with a run in the second. The Orioles countered with a run in the second. Tigers struck back with a run in the third. The Orioles answered with two runs in the fourth. The Orioles tacked on a run in the fifth. Tigers countered with two runs in the sixth. Tigers plated a run in the seventh. The Orioles answered with a run in the ninth. The Orioles spread their scoring across five different innings, applying consistent pressure throughout the game. The Orioles out-hit Tigers 15-9 on the day, with 1 error committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 5,959 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
The Orioles will look to build on this positive performance as spring training winds down. With the regular season rapidly approaching, outings like this one provide confidence and continuity for a roster that is rounding into form. Every remaining exhibition game is another chance to sharpen the details before the games start counting for real.