BALTIMORE — Gunnar Henderson hit a two-run homer in the first, Dean Kremer stopped a four-start losing streak and the Baltimore Orioles salvaged a split of their two-game series against Washington with a 4-1 victory Wednesday night.
Kremer (5-9) outdueled DJ Herz (2-5) in a sharply pitched game, allowing a run and five hits over six innings. Yennier Cano and Cionel Pérez each worked a perfect inning of relief, and Seranthony Domínguez followed with a hitless ninth for his second save since joining the Orioles before the trade deadline.
It was the first scoreless performance for the Baltimore bullpen in six games. Over the previous five, Orioles relievers had allowed 11 runs in 14 innings.
It was the first hitless game for the bullpen since July 19.
''It felt like a normal baseball game. We haven't played many of them,'' Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. ''We pitched really well, we were solid defensively. Gunnar huge hit early, and then a nice little rally there late in the game.''
Herz permitted two runs and four hits in six innings.
Henderson gave Baltimore a 2-0 lead with his 30th home run of the year, and that was all the Orioles needed. The only run for the Nationals came in the second on Alex Call's RBI double. Anthony Santander nearly made a running catch in right field but the ball popped in and out of his glove.
Baltimore entered a half-game behind the Yankees atop the AL East, with New York playing at Chicago on Wednesday night.
