During a season where right-hander Jordan Lyles has made numerous good starts for the Orioles – his ERA was 2.72 in his previous seven starts – today was clearly not one. His opponent was the Boston Red Sox. But it seemed it was also the impact of missing his last start due to a stomach virus.
Scheduled to pitch during the doubleheader Monday against Toronto, Lyles warmed up for that Game 1 start but didn’t make it due to his illness. So, he was pitching on nine days’ rest today and rust showed right from the start. So did his lack of normal velocity, which was down right from the start.
After Lyles’ wildness helped Boston load the bases three batters into the game, cleanup hitter Rafael Devers unloaded them with a grand slam into the Boston bullpen.
The fast start and the Devers' slam led Boston to a blowout win 17-4 over the Orioles, and the game ended with outfielder Ryan McKenna on the mound for Baltimore.
The Orioles fall to 73-66 and have lost five of their past seven games. The Sunday series finale will decide which team wins this series.