Gonzalez strong again as O's blank Boston in series opener
Miguel Gonzalez was real good. Again. The Orioles' defense was pretty good again too and Boston's was not.
Gonzalez, with big help from Tommy Hunter, worked 6 1/3 scoreless innings tonight as the Orioles blanked Boston 4-0 at Fenway Park in the opener of a three-game series.
With the win, the Orioles are 84-59 to reduce their magic number to 11 and lead the American League East by 10 games over both New York and Toronto.
This is the first time the Orioles have lead the AL East by 10 games since Sept. 22, 1979.
Gonzalez allowed three straight singles with one out in the seventh and Buck Showalter called for Hunter. Hunter then struck out Will Middlebrooks on a 98 mph heater and fanned David Ross with a 99 mph fastball.
Gonzalez allowed six hits with three walks and four strikeouts. He threw 103 pitches to improve to 9-7 with a 3.22 ERA.
Gonzalez has not allowed a run over 15 1/3 innings his past two starts and has given up just one run over 22 1/3 in his last three starts. He has allowed two or fewer earned runs nine times in his last 10 starts, going 5-2 with a 1.82 ERA in this stretch.
Over the last seven games, O's starting pitchers have worked to a 1.75 ERA with six quality starts.
This was the Orioles' second shutout in six games - both games were started by Gonzalez - and 11th for the year.
The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the second on singles from Nelson Cruz, Chris Davis and Steve Pearce.
They made it 3-0 in the sixth. Ryan Flaherty hit a grounder to first with the bases loaded and one out and Boston failed to turn the double play. Shortstop Xander Bogaerts threw the ball past first base and two runs scored for a 3-0 edge.
An inning later, the O's loaded the bases on singles and Adam Jones made it 4-0 on a sac fly to left. Left fielder Yoenis Cespedes dropped the ball but Jones was credited with the sac fly and his 82nd RBI.
The Orioles are 8-6 against the Red Sox in 2014 and 32-19 since the 2012. Since Sept. 20, 2011, the Orioles are 19-9 at Fenway Park.
In the second game of this series on Tuesday night, Chris Tillman (11-5, 3.40 ERA) faces Anthony Ranaudo (3-1, 4.63 ERA).
With the win, the Orioles are 84-59 to reduce their magic number to 11 and lead the American League East by 10 games over both New York and Toronto.
This is the first time the Orioles have lead the AL East by 10 games since Sept. 22, 1979.
Gonzalez allowed three straight singles with one out in the seventh and Buck Showalter called for Hunter. Hunter then struck out Will Middlebrooks on a 98 mph heater and fanned David Ross with a 99 mph fastball.
Gonzalez allowed six hits with three walks and four strikeouts. He threw 103 pitches to improve to 9-7 with a 3.22 ERA.
Gonzalez has not allowed a run over 15 1/3 innings his past two starts and has given up just one run over 22 1/3 in his last three starts. He has allowed two or fewer earned runs nine times in his last 10 starts, going 5-2 with a 1.82 ERA in this stretch.
Over the last seven games, O's starting pitchers have worked to a 1.75 ERA with six quality starts.
This was the Orioles' second shutout in six games - both games were started by Gonzalez - and 11th for the year.
The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the second on singles from Nelson Cruz, Chris Davis and Steve Pearce.
They made it 3-0 in the sixth. Ryan Flaherty hit a grounder to first with the bases loaded and one out and Boston failed to turn the double play. Shortstop Xander Bogaerts threw the ball past first base and two runs scored for a 3-0 edge.
An inning later, the O's loaded the bases on singles and Adam Jones made it 4-0 on a sac fly to left. Left fielder Yoenis Cespedes dropped the ball but Jones was credited with the sac fly and his 82nd RBI.
The Orioles are 8-6 against the Red Sox in 2014 and 32-19 since the 2012. Since Sept. 20, 2011, the Orioles are 19-9 at Fenway Park.
In the second game of this series on Tuesday night, Chris Tillman (11-5, 3.40 ERA) faces Anthony Ranaudo (3-1, 4.63 ERA).
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