O's still winless on road trip, fall 7-4 at Boston
Garrett Olson was a pitcher on a roll. Coming into the last of the 6th he had a 3-2 lead and had retired 12 of the last 13 batters. He needed just 28 pitches in the last three innings.
But the Red Sox keep coming at you, and they scored four off the O's and Olson in that sixth inning for a 6-3 lead and an eventual 7-4 win over the Orioles. Dustin Pedroia's two-run single to right off Dennis Sarfate capped the four-run, five-hit rally.
Olson wound up allowing six runs in 5 2/3 as he falls to 8-7. He allowed back-to-back homers to Jason Varitek and Jeff Bailey in the second inning.
Winning pitcher Paul Byrd gave up four runs, three on solo homers, and seven hits over seven innings. He is 10-11 on the season and 3-1 since joining Boston.
The O's have lost four in a row and 11 of 13 games. The Birds fall to 6-10 on the season against Boston.
The Red Sox used a hit, two walks and an error to push across a run and lead 7-4 in the 8th. Jed Lowrie drew a bases-loaded walk that scored Pedroia.
Kevin Millar's solo homer in the 7th pulled the O's to within 6-4 of Boston. It was his 20th homer of the season.
Boston scored four in their half of the sixth to lead 6-3. Jed Lowrie's RBI double tied it 3-3 and Boston took the lead on a Coco Crisp single. Later, Pedroia's two-run single to right made it 6-3.
The O's scored one in the sixth to lead 3-2. Juan Castro led off with a bloop single and scored on a Nick Markakis RBI single with two outs for the lead. Byrd got Luke Scott to fly out with the bases loaded to keep it a 3-2 game.
Castro's solo homer tied the game, 2-2, for the Orioles in the third. It's the 29th homer allowed this year by Byrd.
Varitek and Bailey hit back-to-back homers leading off the Boston second as the Red Sox took a 2-1 lead. It's Varitek's 12th homer and Bailey's second.
Adam Jones' solo homer gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Jones, just activated off the DL today, hit his eighth of the year over the Green Monster in left field.
Balt 4-9-2
Bos 7-8-0
Postgame Notes
Adam Jones rejoined the active roster and hit the first pitch he saw in the first inning over the Green Monster in left field.....It was his 8th homer of the year and first since July 28th at New York.....Aubrey Huff went 1-4 with a double and now has 7 extra-base hits over his last five games.....In that time he is 10-20 with five doubles, two homers and 7 RBI.....Huff is batting .462 (18-39) over his last ten games....Nick Markakis went 1-4 with an RBI and is 6-11 over his last three games.
O's pitchers walked 10 more batters, two were intentional.....The O's have now allowed 41 runs over the last four games and have walked 35 over four games.........The O's team ERA on this road trip is 10.58.....Jim Miller allowed one unearned run, thanks to his own error, in 2/3 of an inning in the 8th in his Major League debut.
The Red Sox hit back-to-back homers in the second inning.....It was the 11th time they've gone back-to-back on the season......Boston pulls to within 5 games of idle Tampa in the AL East and now leads by 3 games in the Wild Card chase.....Dustin Pedroia had two hits and is 11-16 over his last four contests......The O's allowed 7 runs for the 33rd time this year and for the 13th time since August first.
The O's fall to 20-38 vs. the AL East and to 26-19 in series-opening games......Boston has won 6 of 8 and 9 of 13 games and is 16-8 over its last 24......Boston is 46-19 at home and 23-17 in the second-half......Jonathan Papelbon picked up his 6th save this year vs. the O's and 35th overall, but needed 25 pitches to get out of the ninth........Jon Lester (12-5, 3.41) faces Radhames Liz (5-3, 6.95) on Tuesday at Fenway....In seven career starts vs. the O's, Lester is 5-0, 2.93.
Steve Melewski's Live GameBlog
Olson's Line
Tonight vs. Boston: 5 2/3 IP, 6H, 6R-ER, 5BB, 4K, 2HR, 96 pitches.
Millar Note
His solo homer in the 7th tonight was his 20th. It's the first time he's hit 20 since he had 25 for Boston in 2003. Millar got number 18 on August 8th, then hit two in his next 21 games. Tonight's homer ended a 1-18 and 3-32 slump. He now has 70 RBI.
Olson Turnaround
After a shaky start, Garrett Olson has not allowed a hit over the last three innings. Olson needed 41 pitches to get through the first two innings and just 28 to get the last 9 outs. He'll take a lead to the bottom of the 6th.
Regular Season Finales
Three O's Minor League teams ended their regular seasons today while Delmarva finishes up later tonight and Aberdeen's season ends on Saturday.
Triple-A Norfolk lost 9-3 at Richmond to finish 64-78. Jeff Fiorentino went 2-5 with a double. Double-A Bowie lost 13-7 at Harrisburg. The Baysox tied a team record with 84 wins and finish the regular season at 84-58. Nolan Reimold homered for the second day in a row to finish with 25. Bowie hosts Akron in game one of the playoffs Wednesday night with Jason Berken on the mound (12-4, 3.58).
Frederick lost to Winston-Salem 6-4 to finish 63-76. Brandon Snyder had an RBI today and finished this year batting .315-13-80 with 33 doubles for the Keys. Snyder is slated to play in the Arizona Fall League.
Most Homers Allowed, AL Pitchers (Through Sunday)
27 - Paul Byrd, Clev & Bos
25 - Brian Bannister, KC
25 - Vincente Padilla, Tex
25 - Nate Robertson, Det
The O's Daniel Cabrera and Jeremy Guthrie have allowed 22 each, tied for 6th most in the AL.
Final Word on Tampa
The O's allowed 34 runs in the Tampa series and it was a Rays' record for runs in a three-game set. Tampa scored in the first inning in each game and scored in 16 of its 26 at bats during the series. The O's retired the side in order just two times all weekend. The O's team ERA was 11.84 in the series and the starters' ERA was 13.86.
Wild First
After hearing the pregame message from his manager and pitching coach to attack hitters and throw strikes, Garrett Olson walked three in the first inning at Fenway. Somehow it didn't cost him. He fanned Jed Lowrie with the bases loaded to end the threat and the O's lead 1-0 after one. The O's have been scored on in the first 62 times this year and are 23-39 in those games. Olson threw 23 pitches, just 8 strikes in that inning.
Game Time in Boston
Tonight's game is underway at Fenway Park. The O's are 2-4 there this year. In each of the last five series at Fenway, the O's won the opening game of the series then lost the last two. Check back here often tonight for O's news and updates.
Starting Lineups
Orioles
2B Brian Roberts
CF Adam Jones
RF Nick Markakis
3B Aubrey Huff
C Ramon Hernandez
DH Luke Scott
1B Kevin Millar
CF Jay Payton
SS Juan Castro
P Garrett Olson
Red Sox
RF Jacoby Ellsbury
2B Dustin Pedroia
DH David Ortiz
3B Kevin Youkilis
LF Jason Bay
SS Jed Lowrie
C Jason Varitek
1B Jeff Bailey
CF Coco Crisp
P Paul Byrd
Adam Jones gets activated off the DL today and makes his first start since August 2nd at Seattle.
Game Preview
Orioles (63-73) at Boston (79-57)
After getting swept three straight in Tampa for the second time this year, the O's move on to Boston and look to regroup. They'll start a three-game set at Fenway Park tonight as these clubs meet for the last time this season.
Tampa beat the Orioles 10-4 Sunday and scored 34 runs in the series on 40 hits while O's pitching issued 25 walks. O's starters pitched just 12 1/3 innings in Tampa to an ERA of 13.86.
The Orioles have lost 8 of 9 games and 10 of 12 contests. They finished August with a record of 11-17.
Aubrey Huff continued his hot hitting with two more hits Sunday. Over his last nine games, Huff is hitting .486-3-11 with 17 hits in 35 at bats. Over his last four games Huff is 9-16 with two homers, 7 RBI and four doubles.
The Birds are batting .300 since the All-Star game and averaging 6.1 runs per game in the second-half.
Boston lost 4-2 to the White Sox Sunday and is 5 ½ games behind Tampa in the AL East, but leading the Wild Card race by 2 ½ games over Minnesota.
The Red Sox have won 5 of 7 and 8 of 12 and are 15-8 over their last 23 games. Boston is 45-19 at home and finished August with an 18-9 mark.
Boston is 9-6 this year vs. the Orioles and has won four of the five series. The O's are 2-4 at Fenway Park.
Pitching Match-Up
LHP Garrett Olson (8-6, 6.38) tonight makes his 22nd start of 2008, his 8th of the second half and his 3rd this year vs. Boston.
Olson was optioned to Norfolk on August 20th and returns tonight to make this start. In two starts at Triple-A he was 0-1, 5.25. In 12 innings he allowed 7 ER and 13 hits with 14 strikeouts and 5 walks.
In Olson's last three Major League starts he lasted just a total of 10 1/3 and worked to an ERA of 13.06. In his last O's start, August 17 at Detroit, he gave up five runs in just 1 2/3.
Olson, who has given up 139 hits in 108 2/3 innings, gives up a batting average of .308 vs. right-handed batters and .314 vs. lefties. The Orioles are 10-11 in Olson's starts this season.
In seven starts since the All-Star game, he is 2-2, 7.90. In 12 road starts, Olson is 4-5, 7.41.
Olson has made 28 starts the past two seasons and is 9-9, 6.70.
Olson vs. Boston:
2008: 0-1, 6.97, two starts, allowing 4 HR's in 10 1/3
2007: 0-2, 7.63 in three starts
Career: 0-3, 7.36 in five starts covering 25 2/3
RHP Paul Byrd (9-11, 4.55) tonight makes his 26th start of the season, his 4th for Boston and his first this season vs. the Orioles.
Byrd was traded from Cleveland to Boston for a player to be named later on August 12th. In three starts with Boston, Byrd is 2-1, 4.66. He got the win in his last start, Wednesday vs. the Yankees, when he gave up two runs and five hits over six innings.
Byrd pitched to an ERA of 3.70 in July and 3.31 in August.
Bryd first half: 3-10, 5.42, 18 starts
Byrd second half: 6-1, 2.61, 7 starts
Byrd allows a batting average of just .245 vs. righty hitters and it's .315 vs. left-handed batters. In nine home starts on the season, Byrd is 3-3, 3.14
Byrd pitches 1-25 - opponent batting average is .306
Byrd pitches 26-50 - opponent batting average is .247
The Red Sox are 2-1 when Byrd has started while Cleveland's record was just 8-24 when he took the mound this year.
Byrd vs. Baltimore:
2008: 0 appearances
2007: 1-0, 1.35, one start
Career: 1-4, 4.15, six starts....has give up 9 O's homers in 39 career IP
Orioles Hitters 2008 vs. Boston:
Castro: .250-0-1 (2-8)
Cintron: .000-0-0 (0-7)
Hernandez: .205-2-7 (9-44)
Markakis: .259-0-1 (14-54, 6 2B, 16K)
Millar: .200-0-6 (9-45)
Mora: .111-1-6 (5-45, 13K)
Montanez: .333-0-1 (1-3)
Payton: .250-1-8 (9-36)
Quiroz: .143-0-0 (2-14)
Roberts: .306-1-6 (19-62, 10 runs)
Scott: .318-3-7 (14-44, 9 runs)
I agree. He had his one hit of the series not sure that justifies keeping him in the line up. I know he's a nice guy but if you are REALLY playing for the future, why keep a veteran that doesn't produce? Don't Costanzo and Moore play the corners? Any chance we could see them at first this year? Keep Millar around to teach but give someone else his at bats. Scott Moore can just as easily ground into a double play and kill rallies.
Right now he's not looking good vs. anyone. He just went 0-11 at Tampa. He's slumping and probably could use some time off. With Oscar Salazar here now I'd like to see him get some starts at first.
Does Boston still pay part of Millar's salary? Time and time again he looks awful against them. Why bother playing him against Boston?
The Orioles' announcers were talking about Lou Boudreau and the Williams' shift. Actually, Jimmie Dykes tried a shift against Ted Williams about five years earlier and a shift was employed against Cy Williams back in the 1920s.
Two center fielders starting for the O's? Won't that get a little crowded?