BALTIMORE (AP) — Dean Kremer pitched a four-hitter, Adley Rutschman homered and the Baltimore Orioles kept themselves squarely in the playoff hunt by defeating the Houston Astros 6-0. The Orioles started the day trailing Seattle by four games in the race for the third and final AL wild-card spot.
Kremer walked two, struck out six and did not allow a runner past second base.
It was the third straight impressive performance by an Orioles starter, following Jordan Lyles’ three-hitter against Detroit and Kyle Bradish pitching into the ninth inning of a shutout against AL West-leading Houston on Thursday night. Baltimore has 15 shutouts this season — its most since 1992 — including three against the Astros.