O's game blog: O's try to salvage series finale with Boston

Coming off a pair of 11-inning losses by 10-8 and 1-0 scores, the Orioles need to win tonight to avoid getting swept three straight by Boston. Although the Red Sox swept series of two and four games in Baltimore last season, their last three-game sweep at Oriole Park was from Sept. 18-20, 2009.

Boston (87-64) has won 10 of its last 13 games and leads New York by 2 1/2 games atop the American League East after the Yankees won this afternoon. Boston is a season-high 23 games over .500 and is 30-15 since July 31. The Red Sox are 39-33 in division games. They are 15-3 in extra-inning games, winning their last seven.

Orioles left-hander Wade Miley (8-13, 5.32 ERA) comes into this game off his last start at New York where he got just one out on Thursday. He allowed six hits and six runs, throwing just 19 pitches. It happened fast.

In his previous eight starts before that game, Miley was 4-3 with a 3.25 ERA, allowing two earned runs or less six times. In 13 home starts, he is 3-5 with a 4.59 ERA.

In his two starts versus Boston this season, he has gone 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA, allowing two runs over 12 innings with four walks and seven strikeouts. Miley is making his 12th start against an AL East opponent. In his first 11, he has gone 3-6 with a 3.79 ERA.

Boston pitches left-hander Chris Sale (16-7, 2.86 ERA) tonight and he will be making his 31st start. Sale has been a bit more hittable in recent outings. He gave up four runs over 5 2/3 innings against Tampa Bay in his last start. Over his last six starts, he is 2-3 with an ERA of 4.64.

Over 201 1/3 innings for the year, Sale has allowed 153 hits with 41 walks and a career-high 287 strikeouts. The last American League pitcher with 300 strikeouts was Boston's Pedro Martinez with 313 in 1999, a Boston single-season record. Sale's WHIP of 0.964 and strikeouts per nine innings of 12.8 would be career bests if maintained. Sale would tie his career high if he picks up his 17th win.

Sale has recorded 22 quality starts in his 30 games, and the Red Sox are 21-9 in his starts. In two starts this year versus the Orioles, he is 2-0 with a 3.21 ERA and .176 average against. In 13 career games (seven starts), he is 4-2 with a 3.35 ERA against Baltimore.

Trey Mancini extended his hitting streak to nine games last night, tying a season high. He is hitting .316 (12-for-38) during this stretch and also hit in nine straight games from June 10-18. Mancini has 147 hits, which is tied with Marv Breeding for third-most in Orioles history for a rookie. Cal Ripken Jr. had 158 and Eddie Murray 173.

The Orioles (73-79) need to go 8-2 over the final 10 games to record a .500 record. They have lost five of six and 11 of 13 games. Since the end of a seven-game win streak, the Orioles are 5-14. Baltimore has won the season series versus the Red Sox with a 10-8 mark heading into the last game of the year between these teams tonight.