Kremer flirts with no-hitter and Henderson homers in Orioles' 2-0 win (updated)

Dean Kremer’s arm was fine tonight. And it had nothing to do with the disappearance of his welt.

The effectiveness returned along with the appearance, and in it was no-hit stuff that threatened to grew to historical proportions.

Kremer carried a no-hit bid into the seventh inning before Rays top prospect Junior Caminero lined the first pitch into left field for a single. What remained was winning the first game of the series. Back to the basics.

Tampa Bay loaded the bases with no outs on singles by Caminero and Dylan Carlson and Ryan O’Hearn’s fielding error. Kremer left to a standing ovation after 88 pitches and Yennier Cano brought the crowd to its feet again with two strikeouts and a popup in the Orioles’ 2-0 victory before an announced crowd of 25,439 at Camden Yards.

The Yankees also won today to stay a half-game behind the Orioles (82-60), who clinched their third plus-.500 season in a row - the first streak of this length since 2012-14. Tonight’s game marked their ninth shutout.

John Means produced the last no-hitter on May 5, 2021 in Seattle. Kremer was at 81 pitches entering the seventh, which might have necessitated bullpen assistance. The only combined efforts have come from Bob Milacki, Mike Flanagan, Mark Williamson and Gregg Olson on July 13, 1991 against the Athletics, and Steve Barber and Stu Miller on April 30, 1967 in a 2-1 loss to the Tigers.

Caminero spoiled the fun. The Rays would have to find contentment in it.

Cano struck out Jonny DeLuca and José Cavballero, and Ben Rortvedt popped up. Cionel Pérez retired the first two batters in the eighth, Jonathan Aranda reached on Gunnar Henderson’s fielding error, and Seranthony Domínguez fanned Caminero on his way to a tense four-out save in his first opportunity since Aug. 30.

Domínguez, who's 8-for-8 with the Orioles, had two runners on base with one out in the ninth after a hit and Henderson's second error on a ball that he couldn't initially get out of his glove. A strikeout and double steal followed, and Domínguez induced a popup to end the drama.

Cano didn't qualify for a save but he deserved it anyway.

"Came in in a big spot there and worked out of a tough jam there he got put in," Kremer said.

"Adrenaline was pumping at 100 percent there," Cano said through interpreter Brandon Quinones. "Obviously was a really defining moment of the game, so I was really happy to help the team right there and help us get the win."

Henderson hit his 36^th home run leading off the sixth for a 2-0 lead. The game was scoreless until Colton Cowser began the fifth with a walk against Shane Baz and broke for second base with one out as Cedric Mullins walked. Rortvedt fired the ball into center field, an unnecessary and inaccurate throw, to move Cowser to third, and Jackson Holliday’s lifted a fly ball to medium left field.

Kremer was making his first start since being nailed on the forearm by Colorado’s Jordan Beck last Saturday at Coors Field. The 103.1 mph line drive in the fourth inning raised a nasty welt above the wrist and destroyed Kremer’s streak of quality outings after three in a row.

The medical staff got rid of the swelling and Kremer pitched as though the incident was erased from his memory.

"Just for him to post tonight and make a start ...," said manager Brandon Hyde. "He didn't throw for a few days, let the swelling go down out of that wrist and hand area. Played catch the last couple days, and goes out, goes into the seventh inning for us, no hits. The cutter was really good, good splits again, but really aggressive. Aggressive in the strike zone. Pitched great.

"He's come so far since the four or five years ago. Matured so much as a player, understands where we are, too, right now in our schedule and what we're playing for, and also to be there for the guys. I give him a ton of credit. A lot of guys would have asked for a few more days or sat this one out. He’s still got seams on his wrist. But yeah, he was determined from about that second or third day after he got back off the trip."

Hyde didn't know whether Kremer would avoid the injured list and start in the series until after Wednesday's bullpen session and a final check.

"Probably the day he was going to throw his side, I think we were probably 50/50 on it at that point," Hyde said. "The swelling had gone down quite a bit in the second or third day after, so he was going to give it a try. Went out, threw his side and felt OK. Then we made sure he played catch yesterday to just to see if everything was fine, and he felt good enough to start tonight."

Kremer didn't need as much time to be convinced of his status.

"After it had gotten examined and we ruled out a fracture when we got back home, I was fairly confident that I’d be able to make my next start," he said.

"It hurt, but what are you gonna do? It hurt and it’s stiff now, but it is what it is.”

There was some discomfort during the game. The Orioles hadn't found a miracle cure.

“It’s a little stiff but I threw," he said, "so not bad.”

The closest call before Caminero’s single was Taylor Walls’ line drive leading off the sixth that Holliday leaped to catch. Kremer notched his seventh and final strikeout by freezing Aranda with a 94.5 mph fastball to finish the inning.

Kremer is the second Orioles starter to carry a no-hitter into the seventh inning this season, joining Kyle Bradish on May 26 in Chicago.

"I’d say 'disappointment' is the wrong word," Kremer said. "Just kind of part of the game. No-hitters are rare. Usually get rid of them in the first, so never have to think about them. It’s part of the game. You just move on."

The game began with Yandy Díaz striking out after fed a sinker, cutter and splitter. Kremer hit Aranda and coaxed a double play grounder from Caminero in an eight-pitch inning.

Two more batters struck out in the second, both on fastballs, and Kremer fanned Walls with a splitter in the third after Rortvedt walked. DeLuca led off the fifth with a walk and was thrown out trying to steal.

"He was impressive," Cano said. "I think we noticed around the fourth inning or so that he had a no-hitter going and we all got real quiet in the bullpen, but you know he gave up a hit there in that inning but wanted to keep the shutout going. If a no-hitter came around, we wanted to keep that going, as well.

"We’re really happy with the way he pitched and really happy we were able to get the job done."

The Orioles didn’t get a hit against Baz until Henderson led off the fourth with a single into left field. Mullins began the third with a walk and was doubled off first base on Nick Maton’s line drive to right fielder Josh Lowe.

Emmanuel Rivera replaced Maton at third base in the top of the seventh.

The Yankees didn't replace the Orioles atop the division.

"Coming down the stretch, every game is important, especially against inter-division," Kremer said. "We’re just trying to go out there and win every game."

* Outfielder Heston Kjerstad, on the concussion injured list, starts his rehab assignment Saturday at High-A Aberdeen.

* Trevor Rogers made his third start with Triple-A Norfolk and allowed three runs and six hits with one walk and nine strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings. He surrendered two home runs.

Rogers threw 100 pitches, 63 for strikes.

Niko Goodrum hit a walk-off grand slam after Jud Fabian’s RBI single.