Mitch Keller delivers quality start but Orioles shut out Pirates to snap 3-game win streak

The Pittsburgh Pirates couldn’t have asked for much more from Mitch Keller, as the right-hander delivered his fifth consecutive quality start and escaped several scoring situations.

But the Baltimore Orioles also got a strong start from Dean Kremer and did something the Pirates couldn’t: Score a run.

Ramon Urias squeaked an RBI single through the left side in the sixth inning to score Anthony Santander, as the Orioles beat the Pirates, 1-0, Friday night at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in game where the start was delayed one hour, 49 minutes by a rainstorm.

“It’s definitely tough, 1-0 ballgames are definitely tough. Just couldn’t string much together,” Keller said on the AT&T SportsNet post-game show. “Kremer threw really well and their two relief guys were pretty dominant, so that’s tough to get runs when guys are throwing that well.”

The loss snapped a three-game winning streak by the Pirates, who were coming off a series sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers. It was the fourth consecutive win for the Orioles, who climbed closer into wild-card contention.

“We had traffic on the bases in eight of the nine innings and we continued to play really good defense and execute plays,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “And we got beat on a chopper that went through. We just couldn’t get anything going offensively.”

It was the sixth consecutive game in which Keller (3-8) lasted at least six innings, and the third time in those six for which he took the loss. Keller allowed a hit to the first batter in each of the first four innings and three times had runners in scoring position but escaped unscathed. He gave up eight hits and one walk in six innings but executed his pitches.

“He wasn’t as sharp as we’ve seen him,” Shelton said, “but he was able to navigate through it.”