Chen good again as O's beat Boston to complete Fenway sweep
Wei-Yin Chen took a perfect game into the sixth inning and the Orioles scored six runs in the third today in a 10-6 win over the Red Sox to complete their first three-game sweep in Boston since May 4-6, 2012.
The Orioles improved to 37-22 against the American League East and to 86-59 for the season. They reduced their magic number for a division title to eight.
This win clinches an O's season series victory against Boston for the third year in a row. It marks the first time the O's have accomplished that since winning the season series four years in a row from 1964-67.
A 10-1 romp turned into a four-run win when Boston scored five runs off Joe Saunders in the last of the ninth. Darren O'Day got the last out with two men on and recorded a save. Yep, a save when they had a nine-run lead to start the inning.
The Orioles went 13-5 versus Boston in 2012, 11-8 last year and are 10-6 with three games left to play this season. Since Sept. 20, 2011, the Orioles are 21-9 at Fenway Park.
Dan Butler's first major league hit was a double with one out in the sixth and it was the first baserunner against Chen today after he retired the first 16 batters. He lost his shutout on Xander Bogaert's homer in the seventh.
Chen went seven innings, giving up just the one run on three hits with no walks and four strikeouts. He is now 15-4 with an ERA of 3.59.
Chen has allowed one run in 13 innings over his last two starts and is 6-1 with a 2.67 ERA in 10 starts since the All-Star break.
O's starters continue on a roll. Over the last nine games, they have pitched to an ERA of 1.70, allowing two earned runs or fewer seven times in that span.
The O's used six hits, an error and a bases-loaded walk to score six in the third against Boston starter Brandon Workman, who entered this start with 10 2/3 career scoreless innings against the Orioles.
Ryan Flaherty had two hits in the frame and Jonathan Schoop made two of the three outs. Alejandro De Aza's single made it 1-0 and Adam Jones doubled in two for a 3-0 edge. A Steve Pearce walk with the bases loaded made it 4-0, and then Caleb Joseph and Flaherty followed with RBI singles.
Joseph added a two-run homer in the fifth, his ninth of the season. Kelly Johnson and Flaherty added RBI doubles in the ninth. Flaherty went 4-for-5 and the Orioles had 15 hits. The four hits are a career-best for Flaherty.
Through the fifth inning, the Orioles went 6-for-9 with runners in scoring position. They had been 2-for-20 with RISP in the series and 5-for-40 in the first five games of this road trip.
The O's end the road trip 4-2, winning the last four games. They have won 13 of their last 17 games.
After Thursday's off-day, the O's head home for a 10-game homestand that begins with a day-night doubleheader Friday against the Yankees. It figures to be an eventful homestand, one that should feature the Orioles clinching their first AL East title since 1997.
A 10-1 romp turned into a four-run win when Boston scored five runs off Joe Saunders in the last of the ninth. Darren O'Day got the last out with two men on and recorded a save. Yep, a save when they had a nine-run lead to start the inning.
The Orioles went 13-5 versus Boston in 2012, 11-8 last year and are 10-6 with three games left to play this season. Since Sept. 20, 2011, the Orioles are 21-9 at Fenway Park.
Dan Butler's first major league hit was a double with one out in the sixth and it was the first baserunner against Chen today after he retired the first 16 batters. He lost his shutout on Xander Bogaert's homer in the seventh.
Chen went seven innings, giving up just the one run on three hits with no walks and four strikeouts. He is now 15-4 with an ERA of 3.59.
Chen has allowed one run in 13 innings over his last two starts and is 6-1 with a 2.67 ERA in 10 starts since the All-Star break.
O's starters continue on a roll. Over the last nine games, they have pitched to an ERA of 1.70, allowing two earned runs or fewer seven times in that span.
The O's used six hits, an error and a bases-loaded walk to score six in the third against Boston starter Brandon Workman, who entered this start with 10 2/3 career scoreless innings against the Orioles.
Ryan Flaherty had two hits in the frame and Jonathan Schoop made two of the three outs. Alejandro De Aza's single made it 1-0 and Adam Jones doubled in two for a 3-0 edge. A Steve Pearce walk with the bases loaded made it 4-0, and then Caleb Joseph and Flaherty followed with RBI singles.
Joseph added a two-run homer in the fifth, his ninth of the season. Kelly Johnson and Flaherty added RBI doubles in the ninth. Flaherty went 4-for-5 and the Orioles had 15 hits. The four hits are a career-best for Flaherty.
Through the fifth inning, the Orioles went 6-for-9 with runners in scoring position. They had been 2-for-20 with RISP in the series and 5-for-40 in the first five games of this road trip.
The O's end the road trip 4-2, winning the last four games. They have won 13 of their last 17 games.
After Thursday's off-day, the O's head home for a 10-game homestand that begins with a day-night doubleheader Friday against the Yankees. It figures to be an eventful homestand, one that should feature the Orioles clinching their first AL East title since 1997.
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