Orioles rotation keeps rolling

OAKLAND – A home run and walk in the first inning last night and a leadoff single and an error in the second threatened to detonate Albert Suárez’s start.

A runner stood on third base with one out. With his typical calm demeanor, Suárez struck out the next two batters to escape the jam and retired 12 in a row and 17 of his last 20.

Suárez allowed two runs in six-plus innings, and Orioles starters have surrendered only four in the last 23 1/3.

The Orioles began the series ranked first in the American League and second in the majors with a 3.42 ERA. Their 3.28 rotation ERA also was first and second, respectively.

They held those spots after last night’s 3-2 win at Oakland Coliseum, the staff at 3.40 and rotation still 3.28. The starters have allowed two earned runs or fewer in eight of the last nine games.

The immediate reaction goes something like, “How is this possible?”

This is a rotation in a constant state of repair. Pop the hood and try to keep it running.

“Seeing guys step up into some of the roles they didn’t have to start the year and have the success that they have, it’s awesome,” said outfielder Austin Hays. “That’s what makes really good teams good is that you have depth and you have guys you may not have expected to be in a role and they step into it and they perform really well. We have a lot of guys doing that right now.”

The Orioles had to compensate for putting Kyle Bradish and John Means on the injured list to begin the season and losing Tyler Wells after three outings, the last on April 12. He never came back.

Bradish and Means made eight and four starts, respectively, and underwent ligament-reconstructive surgeries in their elbows. Wells had an ulnar collateral ligament revision and internal brace augmentation surgery.

Dean Kremer missed about six weeks with a strained right triceps, after Grayson Rodriguez was gone for three weeks with right shoulder inflammation.

Kremer returned Wednesday and shut out the Mariners for five innings, one night after Rodriguez tossed 6 1/3 scoreless innings and also allowed only two hits in the series opener. Corbin Burnes surrendered two runs in six innings Thursday for his 14^th quality start.

Dial back to the June 28 game at Camden Yards and there’s Suárez with six scoreless innings to outpitch future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer. Rookie Cade Povich, in his fifth major league start, followed by allowing two runs in five innings.

Cole Irvin lost his spot after allowing 17 earned runs and 22 total in his last four starts over 18 innings, but he posted a 2.01 ERA and 0.985 WHIP in five games in May. His work should be credited for its role in holding the rotation together.

“Well, they’ve done an amazing job,” manager Brandon Hyde said this week when asked about his starters. “We couldn’t have asked for anything more from what all these rotation guys have done. We had some guys go down that are really good pitchers and our guys have stepped up.”

“It sucks to lose anybody because we’re such a close-knit group,” Kremer said, “but just like last year and the previous year, it’s the kind of next man up. Somebody has to fill their shoes and I think we’ve done a pretty good job at that.”

It’s a lot of shoes. Just short of the Imelda Marcos collection. More than any team could reasonably expect to replace and still rank so highly.

“That is so good. That’s awesome,” said Ryan O’Hearn.

“That’s probably why we have such a good record.”

Teammates probably would have lowered their expectations for the season if told in February that they’d proceed without Bradish, Means and Wells.  

“I think it definitely would raise a concern,” O’Hearn said.

“I think Albert Suárez has been massive. Cade’s been really good, Irv’s been really good. And then, obviously, Dean, Grayson, Burnes. K.B. was killing it pitching through a lot of pain and things like that. I just think we have competitors on both sides throughout the whole roster, and without our pitching staff … I think that’s as important, if not the most important thing on the team is the pitching.”

Kremer already held an important role with the club. Now he’d likely start the third game of a playoff series if it began tonight.

“Huge. Having Dean back is massive,” Hyde said.

“We know what he’s capable of. He showed it (Wednesday). Glad he’s healthy, feeling good and attacking the zone with all his pitches. He was electric, and we need Dean moving forward.”