Orioles closer Craig Kimbrel unfazed by boos from Phillies fans at Camden Yards: ‘I definitely heard ‘em’

Craig Kimbrel’s heard worse.

The 15-year veteran, one of the most decorated closers in MLB history, is no stranger to the boo birds. Heck, even some Orioles fans let him hear it in May as he struggled through a rough patch.

That’s life as a closer.

So when the Phillies, his former team, visited Baltimore for a highly anticipated series this weekend, and Philadelphia fans made the short drive down Interstate 95 to invade Camden Yards, Kimbrel knew what to expect.

“I figured I’d get a nice reception,” he quipped.

When Kimbrel entered to pitch the ninth inning in Friday’s loss and Saturday’s win, he was greeted by loud boos from the thousands of Phillies fans at Oriole Park. The not-so-warm welcome didn’t faze Kimbrel, who continued his hot stretch on the mound with a scoreless inning both nights.

“That’s not something you usually get in your home stadium, but Phillies fans, they travel deep,” Kimbrel said. “They were here today, and I definitely heard ‘em.”

Despite being an All-Star last year in his only season with the Phillies, Philadelphia fans don’t look back on the right-hander’s time with positive feelings, to say the least. Kimbrel’s inconsistency appeared at times last season, but it hit an apex in the playoffs when he was tagged with the loss in Games 3 and 4 of the National League Championship Series versus the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Kimbrel allowed a walk-off single to Ketel Marte in Game 3 and then allowed three runs in Game 4, including a game-tying two-run homer to Alek Thomas. The 35-year-old was demoted from the closer role for the remainder of the series, which the Diamondbacks won in seven games to advance to the World Series.

So the Phillies fans at Camden Yards this weekend, who’ve made the series feel like a competitive college football bowl game more than a regular season baseball contest, took out their frustration on Kimbrel about his 8-month-old playoff failure.

“If anything, it makes you sharper,” said reliever Bryan Baker, who pitched a scoreless eighth in Saturday’s win. “You’d be crazy now to kind of feel some of the energy that’s being put out. Being able to harness it and not try to overdo it in spots like that is huge. Being able to take in that energy, even though there was a lot of Phillies energy there today, too, but it’s good from both sides.”

Kimbrel wouldn’t normally have pitched with a four-run lead Saturday, but Baltimore’s bullpen was worn down after Friday’s extra-innings loss.

“We only had a couple other guys,” Hyde said. “A four-run lead with a three-batter minimum, for me that’s a save situation, especially against this club. I think he understood the situation we were in with our bullpen today, and he gladly threw the ball.”

Kimbrel, who is fifth on MLB’s all-time saves list with 433, has provided exactly what was expected — good and bad — when the Orioles signed him for $13 million in the offseason to fill the large void left by injured closer Félix Bautista. He owns a 2.39 ERA and 16 saves in 19 opportunities with 38 strikeouts in 26 1/3 innings and a 0.95 WHIP.

But a tough stretch in the middle of the season has marred those sparkling numbers. After allowing only one run in his first 11 innings as an Oriole, Kimbrel gave up six in his next 2 1/3 frames across five outings, which included two blown saves and losses versus the Oakland Athletics.

The Orioles needed a gutsy performance from Grayson Rodriguez, and that it was.

Anthony Santander provided the offense with two homers because, well, it's June.

On Rodriguez, Santander and more from the Orioles' 6-2 win over the Phillies: https://t.co/FA4vGbJB7M

— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) June 16, 2024

Kimbrel was temporarily demoted as Baltimore’s closer to get back on track before reclaiming his spot after a few good outings. He’s allowed only one run (zero earned) in his past 13 innings, allowing only four hits and two walks with 17 strikeouts. He struck out the side after a leadoff walk Saturday.

“I needed to get through that inning today because we needed to win,” Kimbrel said. “We played a really good ballgame. Last night was one of those ones where you fight hard to get back in it. I think the rain delay kind of slowed us down. To come back today and get back on the board and get a win, that’s how it worked today.”