WORST DECISION: Orioles have made the wrong decision letting him go this way.

Dean Kremer returns from IL, leads Orioles past M’s.

Dean Kremer pitched five scoreless innings in his return from the injured list and Ryan O’Hearn homered and drove in three runs to lead the Baltimore Orioles to a 4-1 victory against the host Seattle Mariners on Wednesday.

Baltimore has won the first two games of a three-game series involving division leaders.

Orioles closer Craig Kimbrel retired the side in order in the ninth to earn his 21st save of the season and the 438th of his career, moving past Francisco Rodriguez for sole possession of fourth place on the all-time list. Kimbrel trails only Mariano Rivera (652), Trevor Hoffman (601) and Lee Smith (478).

Kremer (4-4), sidelined since May 21 due to a right triceps strain, allowed just two hits — a two-out single in the fourth by Ty France on a grounder into left field and a leadoff infield single by Julio Rodriguez in the fifth. Kremer walked two and struck out eight.

Cal Raleigh homered in the sixth inning to prevent the Mariners from being blanked for a second consecutive game after they took a 2-0 loss in the series opener.

The Orioles opened the scoring with three runs in the third inning against Mariners starter Logan Gilbert (5-5).

With one out, No. 9 hitter Ramon Urias drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch. Gilbert fanned Gunnar Henderson before walking Adley Rutschman. O’Hearn hit a liner that went off the end of the glove of center fielder Rodriguez as he made a sliding attempt on the warning track, and both runners scored. Ryan Mountcastle grounded a single to right to plate O’Hearn.

O’Hearn, who extended his on-base streak to 15 games, hit a solo shot to right with one out in the fifth. It was his 11th homer of the season.

Raleigh went deep to left-center with one out in the sixth off Orioles reliever Keegan Akin.

Gilbert gave up four runs on six hits over 5 1/3 innings. The right-hander walked three — more free passes than he issued in his previous seven starts combined — and fanned six.