Orioles fall to Rays 7-1 on July 19, 2025, as starter Dean Kremer's bizarre 11-walk, 11-strikeout performance dooms Baltimore in a lopsided AL East loss.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a night of extremes for the Baltimore Orioles in Tampa, and unfortunately, they ended up on the wrong side of a 7-1 scoreline. In one of the most bizarre pitching performances you'll ever see, starter Dean Kremer battled himself as much as the Rays, issuing a staggering number of walks that overshadowed his impressive strikeout total. The offense couldn't provide any support, leaving fans frustrated and the team falling further in the AL East standings.
A stat line for the ages, for all the wrong reasons: 4.2 innings, 11 strikeouts, and 11 walks for Dean Kremer.
The final score of 7-1 tells a story, but Dean Kremer's pitching line tells a novel. The Orioles starter was electric and erratic all at once, fanning 11 Rays batters but also handing out 11 free passes in just 4.2 innings. That level of traffic on the basepaths is simply unsustainable, and Tampa Bay made him pay. On the other side, Rays starter Zack Littell was the picture of efficiency, cruising through 7.2 innings while allowing just one run. The Orioles' bats were silenced, unable to string together any meaningful rallies. The loss drops the club to a tough 43-53 record, keeping them firmly in 5th place in a competitive division.
As the team struggles for consistency on the mound, the front office made a move to bolster its pitching depth. The Orioles officially signed right-hander Corbin Martin to a one-year major league contract on Friday. Martin, who recently elected free agency, provides another arm for a staff that has been hit with injuries and inconsistency. While not a blockbuster move, it's a practical addition aimed at providing innings and stability as the O's navigate a difficult stretch and evaluate their options ahead of the trade deadline.
While Saturday's game was a downer, there's positive news coming from the training room. The cavalry might be on its way. Ryan Mountcastle is reportedly taking at-bats in Sarasota and is targeting a rehab assignment beginning July 22, a welcome sign for a power-starved lineup. Pitchers Kyle Bradish and Cade Povich both had rehab starts scheduled for July 19, a massive step forward in their respective recoveries. Catcher Chadwick Tromp has also begun his own rehab assignment. Getting these key pieces back will be crucial for any chance of a second-half turnaround.
The loss stings, no doubt about it. But with the trade deadline fast approaching and key players like Mountcastle getting closer to a return, the next couple of weeks will be pivotal in defining the second half of the Orioles' season. Baltimore will look to salvage the series against the Rays tomorrow, hoping for a much cleaner performance on the mound and a spark from the bats. One game doesn't make a season, but the O's need to find their footing, and fast.
