By Ali Halloum
AFRO Interns

The Orioles (43-50) opened their final series ahead of the All-Star break with a win against the Miami Marlins (42-51) July 11 at Camden Yards.

Baltimore Orioles center fielder Cedric Mullins (center), and shortstop Gunnar Henderson (2) celebrate their team’s victory over the Miami Marlins after a baseball game while Jackson Holliday (7) looks on. Credit: AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough

Orioles starting pitcher Dean Kremer (8-7, 4.24) cruised through seven shutout innings, allowing three hits, one walk and striking out seven Marlins en route to the victory. Marlins pitcher Edward Cabrera (3-4, 3.61) struggled in his start, allowing four runs in four innings in the losing effort.

Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino said he saw a lot of “good stuff” from Kremer on the mound.

“There’s a lot of life to the fastball,” Mansolino said. “The split looked sharp he was dropping some breaking balls in there. Super competitive.”

Solid team offense also played a key role in the July 11 win, with the Orioles tallying 12 hits as a team, including three doubles. All-Star first baseman Ryan O’Hearn (2-4, 2B) and outfielder Ramon Laureano (3-4, 2B) both tallied multiple RBIs in the ballgame.

Mansolino gave special praise to third baseman Jordan Westburg’s efforts (2-3, RBI, BB), calling him an “unsung player,” particularly from his efforts since his return from injury on July 4.

“Nobody talks about Westburg enough,” Mansolino said. “We’ve said it all year, that’s kind of the missing piece … He’s a heck of a bat.”

The O’s entered the July 11 game having won five of their last six since Independence Day. After a rough start to the season, they are 24-14 since May 30.

Baltimore struck quickly to start the ballgame, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first by stringing three hits in the inning. 

Stringing hits together again in the bottom of the third, the Orioles doubled their lead to 4-0, with O’Hearn collecting his second RBI of the day.

Laureano added his second RBI in the seventh, extending Baltimore’s lead to 5-0. 

Although the Fish got on the board by way of a 2-run homer in the ninth by shortstop Otto Lopez, reliever Andrew Kittredge (4.18) was able to get the final three outs in the ninth to seal a 5-2 series opening win for Baltimore

The series continues at 4:05 p.m. ET July 12. LHP Trevor Rogers (2-0, 1.57) will toe the slab for the Orioles. RHP Janson Junk (3-1, 3.12) will counter for Miami.