Orioles take first lead of 2014 (we're tied and Tillman's done)

If you're ready to collect your money today after choosing Delmon Young in the "first Oriole to get an RBI" pool, I've got bad news for you. A double play doesn't produce an RBI. Just a run. Not that there's anything wrong with it. Young grounded into an unconventional 4-3-6 double play with runners on the corners and one out in the second inning to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead against Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester. Nelson Cruz walked after falling behind 0-2 in the count and Matt Wieters looped a single over the head of Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts. Young followed with his ground ball to second baseman Dustin Pedroia. Young is now 7-for-35 lifetime against Lester. Cruz made a leaping catch on the warning track in left after back-to-back singles by Mike Carp and Grady Sizemore to open the top of the second. He had a snow cone on a cold afternoon, but he held onto the ball for the out. Sizemore hadn't played since Sept. 22, 2011. That's a long time, right? Chris Tillman has struck out four in three innings, including Will Middlebrooks looking at a 94 mph fastball to end the second and Carp to end the third. Middlebrooks is 0-for-15 lifetime against Tillman. David Ortiz singled with two outs in the third - making him 2-for-18 against Tillman - and Mike Napoli doubled off the fence in left, but Carp struck out on a curveball in the dirt. The Red Sox have five hits, but no runs, and Tillman has thrown 61 pitches. Update: So much for having the lead. Sizemore led off the top of the fourth with a home run over the out-of-town scoreboard in right field to tie the game 1-1. Sizemore's last home run was July 15, 2011 off Jake Arrieta at Camden Yards. Today, he got hold of a 91 mph cutter from Tillman. Tillman has thrown 79 pitches in four innings. Update II: Tillman is done after throwing 104 pitches in five innings, including 71 for strikes. He allowed one run and seven hits, walked one and struck out four. The Red Sox produced a lot of fly ball outs, driving outfielders to the warning track. Tillman couldn't keep the ball down and was fortunate to surrender only the one run. Zach Britton will work the sixth.



Cruz gives Orioles lead, Britton gives them sinkin...
The opening day festivities (game update)
 

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