Full Breakdown
Dean Kremer Shuts Down Former Orioles in Twins’ 9-5 Victory
8/11/2026, 11:41:22 AM
Core Event
On Monday night at Target Field, the Minnesota Twins defeated the Baltimore Orioles 9–5. Right-hander Dean Kremer, acquired from Baltimore at the July 31 trade deadline, pitched seven innings, allowing one run on one hit and striking out seven batters. Left-hander Trevor Rogers started for the Orioles and was removed after four innings, having given up two runs on four hits.
Background & Context
The trade that sent Kremer to Minnesota also delivered 18-year-old outfield prospect Jhomnardo Reyes to Baltimore. The move occurred on July 31, when the Orioles were already trailing in the American League East wild-card race. Kremer had missed significant time earlier in the season with injury and had posted a 2-4 record before the trade. Minnesota entered the game a half-game ahead of Baltimore in the wild-card standings, while the Twins were four games behind the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central.
Timeline
- July 31 – Orioles trade Dean Kremer to the Twins for prospect Jhomnardo Reyes.
- Monday night – Twins host Orioles; Kremer makes his second start for Minnesota against his former club.
Data & Statistics
- Kremer’s line: 7 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 7 K (game recap).
- Rogers’ line: 4 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 4 K, 2 BB (game recap).
- Minnesota’s offense: 9 runs on 13 hits, including home runs by Austin Martin, Josh Bell and Ryan Jeffers (ESPN recap).
- Baltimore’s offense: 5 runs, highlighted by a two-run single from Coby Mayo in the ninth inning (ESPN recap).
Why It Matters
Kremer’s dominant performance gave Minnesota a rare win against a direct competitor for the third wild-card spot, extending their lead to a half-game over Baltimore. The victory also marked Kremer’s longest and most effective start of the season, potentially solidifying his role in the Twins’ rotation as they head into a six-game homestand that could shape their postseason prospects. For the Orioles, the loss underscored ongoing struggles in both starting pitching and offensive production, leaving them further behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East.
On-the-Ground Reports
Local observers noted that the Twins’ defense limited Rogers’ ability to locate strikes, with the left-hander throwing only 45 of 79 pitches for strikes. The Twins’ bullpen kept the Orioles from mounting a larger comeback, while the home crowd reacted enthusiastically to Kremer’s early-inning dominance and Martin’s third-inning home run that opened the scoring.
What’s Next
The Twins will conclude their six-game homestand with a series against the Philadelphia Phillies before returning to road travel. The Orioles are slated to start right-hander Brandon Young in their next game against Minnesota.
