Jewell Loyd leads the Storm past the Wings for the second time in three days

SEATTLE (AP) — Jewell Loyd scored 26 points, Nneka Ogwumike added 14 and the Seattle Storm beat the Dallas Wings for the second time in three days with a 95-71 victory on Monday night.

Loyd narrowly missed her third-straight game with 30-plus points after scoring 30 in a 97-76 victory over the Wings on Saturday.

Seattle took control in the first half, leading 45-37 at the break behind 13 points from Loyd.

Loyd made a 3-pointer with 5:02 left in the third to cap a 15-2 run for a 60-39 lead. Ogwumike added a 3-pointer on the Storm’s next possession for a 22-point advantage. Dallas was just 1 of 6 from 3-point range at that point.

Loyd sat out the fourth quarter after Seattle scored 34 in the third to take a 79-50 lead.

Seattle (13-6) has won eight straight games at home.

Ezi Magbegor added 12 points, seven rebounds and two blocks for Seattle. Skylar Diggins-Smith had eight points and five assists.

Arike Ogunbowale led the Wings with 21 points and five steals. Natasha Howard added 15 points and Odyssey Sims had 12.

Dallas (4-15) entered the Seattle series after ending an 11-game losing streak on Thursday.

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

Seattle Storm guard Jordan Horston puts up a shot as Dallas Wings forward Natasha Howard, left, looks on during the first half of a WNBA basketball game, Monday, July 1, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Storm guard Jewell Loyd reacts to making a three-pointer against the Dallas Wings during the first half of a WNBA basketball game, Monday, July 1, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Storm center Ezi Magbegor, right, moves the ball against Dallas Wings center Teaira McCowan, left, during the first half of a WNBA basketball game, Monday, July 1, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike (3) drives to the basket against Dallas Wings forward Natasha Howard (6) and guard Arike Ogunbowale, right, during the first half of a WNBA basketball game, Monday, July 1, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale looks down during a stoppage as her team trails the Seattle Storm during the first half of a WNBA basketball game, Monday, July 1, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Storm guard Skylar Diggins-Smith (4) goes up to the basket against Dallas Wings center Teaira McCowan (15) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game, Monday, July 1, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale (24) drives the ball against Seattle Storm guard Nika Muhl during the second half of a WNBA basketball game, Monday, July 1, 2024, in Seattle. The Storm won 95-71. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Storm guard Jordan Horston, left, looks to drive the ball around Dallas Wings guard Lou Lopez Senechal (8) and guard Sevgi Uzun (1) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game, Monday, July 1, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Storm guard Jewell Loyd (24) jumps up for a basket against Dallas Wings guard Odyssey Sims (2) and forward Monique Billings, right, during the first half of a WNBA basketball game, Monday, July 1, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Storm guard Jewell Loyd (24) goes up to the basket against Dallas Wings forward Natasha Howard, left, and guard Sevgi Uzun (1) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game, Monday, July 1, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

SEATTLE (AP) — Ryan O’Hearn had a key two-out, two-run double and later added a solo home run, Dean Kremer threw five shutout innings in his first start since late May, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Seattle Mariners 4-1 on Wednesday night.

Baltimore won for the sixth time in seven games and continued Seattle’s recent side that has seen a 10-game lead in the AL West dwindle down to two. The Mariners lost for the 10th time in 13 games.

“Similar tune. Unfortunately we struggled to get much traction offensively at all and you can't have perfect pitching,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said.

Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth for his 21st save for Baltimore and 438th of his career moving him into fourth-place alone on the all-time saves list ahead of Francisco Rodriguez.

“Anytime you have the opportunity to be on this list and to surpass a guy that you got to spend time with and enjoyed their craft and what they did, it's really cool,” Kimbrel said.

O’Hearn, who finished second to Yordan Alvarez in All-Star Game voting as the AL designated hitter, delivered the big blow during a two-out rally in the third inning off Seattle starter Logan Gilbert.

O’Hearn’s drive to deep left-center field clipped off the glove of Julio Rodríguez as he tried to make a sliding catch on the warning track. Rodríguez was immediately angry with himself for not making the catch as Ramon Urias and Adley Rutschman scored. Anthony Santander followed with a single to score O’Hearn.

“I don't know how he almost got there. He started in the right-center gap but I'm glad he didn't come up with it,” O'Hearn said.

Two innings later, O’Hearn hit his 11th homer of the season on a cutter from Gilbert that stayed in the middle of the plate.

That turned out to be plenty of run support for Kremer, who made his first start since May 20 due to a triceps strain. Kremer (4-4) didn’t allow a hit until Ty France dribbled a single through the infield with one out in the fourth inning. Using his splitter significantly more than his average for the season, Kremer gave up two hits, struck out eight and allowed only one base runner to reach second.

“For him to go on a big league mound, on the road and go five scoreless innings, that was as sharp as he's been really all year for me,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said.

Cal Raleigh’s 15th homer of the season off Baltimore reliever Keegan Akin in the sixth inning ended the shutout. But the Mariners have scored more than three runs once in the last eight games.

Gilbert (5-5) had allowed two earned runs in his previous three starts combined, but his control was not sharp. Gilbert’s three walks matched the combined total for his eight previous starts dating to May 20.

“Against good teams, especially at this level, it really is a game of inches where it could have gone either way,” Gilbert said.

BULLPEN BOUND

Hyde said LHP Cole Irvin will move to the bullpen for now with the return of Kremer, rather than having six-man rotation. Irvin has started 14 games this season for the Orioles.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Orioles: LHP Nick Vespi was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.

Mariners: RHP Gregory Santos made it through is first rehab outing at Triple-A Tacoma without issue. The Mariners are hoping he will need only one or two more outings before rejoining the team.

UP NEXT

Orioles: RHP Corbin Burnes (9-3, 2.28) had 11 strikeouts in six innings in his first start against Seattle earlier this season.

Mariners: RHP Bryce Miller (6-7, 3.88) has lost two straight starts. Miller allowed two runs in five innings in his last start against Minnesota.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Seattle Mariners starter Logan Gilbert delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Baltimore Orioles starter Dean Kremer delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Seattle Mariners starter Logan Gilbert delivers a pitch during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Baltimore Orioles' Ramon Urias, left, and Adley Rutschman celebrate after scoring runs during the third inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Baltimore Orioles starter Dean Kremer delivers a pitch during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Baltimore Orioles' Ryan O'Hearn hits a RBI-double during the third inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Baltimore Orioles' Ryan O'Hearn celebrates with Anthony Santander after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)