Chris Sale fans 13 and Boston completes sweep (with Britton update)

For a while, Orioles lefty Wade Miley was holding the Boston Red Sox at bay. He pitched out a bases-loaded jam in the third and had not allowed a hit to that point.

Earlier this season, he held Boston to two runs in 12 innings over two starts. But that run of success quickly came to a stop as Boston homered twice in the fourth to lead 4-0.

The Red Sox went on to a 9-0 win tonight behind Chris Sale to improve to 88-64, sweep the three-game series and restore their American League East lead to three games over the Yankees, who won earlier.

The Orioles begin their final homestand of the year 0-3. They fall to 73-80 and now will need to go 8-1 the rest of the way for a .500 finish. They have lost six of seven, 12 of 14 games and are 5-15 the last 20 games.

Sale threw eight scoreless innings, allowing four hits with no walks and 13 strikeouts. He improved to 17-7 with an ERA of 2.75. His 13th strikeout tonight - he got Ryan Flaherty looking to end the eighth - was the 300th of his season. He becomes the first AL pitcher to reach 300 since Boston's Pedro Martinez in 1999. Sale fanned 10 or more in a game for the 18th time this year and 53rd time in his career.

The Orioles were shut out for the second straight night and the 10th time on the season. They have not scored over their last 26 innings. It is the first time since September 2015 they have not scored in back-to-back games.

After Miley got through three innings on 46 pitches, he needed 41 in the fourth. He gave up two-run homers to Mookie Betts and Deven Marrero. Betts hit No. 23 on a 1-2 curveball and Marrero hit No. 4 on a 1-1 fastball.

Miley walked two with one out in the fourth and was replaced by Mike Wright. Hanley Ramirez doubled off Wright to plate two runs charged to Miley as Boston's lead grew to 6-0.

Miley went 4 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and six runs on 100 pitches. He falls to 8-14 with an ERA of 5.52. Over his past two starts, he has given up 12 runs in 4 2/3 innings. For the season, he has pitched five innings or less in 18 of 31 starts, allowing six runs or more six times.

In late August, the Orioles outscored Boston 25-4 in a three-game sweep at Fenway Park. Boston swept this series by a combined 20-8 score.

The Orioles end the season series going 10-9 against Boston and 4-6 at home. They host Tampa Bay on Thursday night when right-hander Gabriel Ynoa (1-2, 4.18 ERA) faces right-hander Matt Andriese (5-3, 4.44 ERA).

Britton update: After tonight's game, Orioles closer Zach Britton told reporters he is going to have a stem cell injection in his left knee tomorrow and may not pitch again this year. The good news, he said, is that he will not need surgery.

Britton had his exit physical and team orthopedist Dr. Michael Jacobs read the results of his latest MRI. Britton has been on the disabled list twice this year with soreness in his left elbow and forearm area. But has not been on the DL due to his knee. He revealed earlier this season that he has worn a brace on the knee this year and in past seasons, as well.

What did the most recent MRI show?

"It showed that it had gotten a little bit worse and that is why we are taking the steps we are now," Britton said. "But nothing drastic. Throwing on it for two months, you know, obviously didn't help, so Jacobs thought the best idea was to start the recovery process now with that injection.

"I am going to get a stem cell injection tomorrow before the game. Hopefully, that will speed up the recovery process. It is not anything that needs surgery done. It is going to go away once I rest it.

"It is not anything that needs to be operated on, which is the good news. I spoke with Dr. Jacobs through my exit MRI today - it was something we were going to do anyway. He just felt like this was in the team's and my best interest to get the recovery process going right now. So that is what we're going to do."

Britton, who is 2-1 with a 2.89 ERA and 15 saves in 17 chances, would like to pitch again this season, but with just nine games to go, he may not.

"I think the most important thing for me is to be healthy going into next season," he said. "That is the thing they preached to me from an organization standpoint. Obviously, got the arm injury past me and started to feel good on the mound. Managing the knee and had been pitching through pain for two months trying to help the team win. So I feel like it was my best interest to try and calm that down, do the stem cell injection and start the recovery process now."

And that likely means he doesn't pitch again in 2017.

"I would assume so, based on my intel from talking to Dr. Jacobs," Britton said.
"But you never say never. I'm going to make myself available. I'm not shutting down by any means. But we are going to do what we can to start the recovery and not have this linger into the offseason so I can be ready for spring training."

As for tonight's game, an obviously frustrated Miley had just a few words to say about his outing.

"I walked four guys and gave up two home runs. That's it," Miley said. "I mean, any time you go out there and get your ass kicked, it sucks. There is really no other way to put it. Kind of been that way all year."

Miley was asked if his stuff didn't hold up into the fourth inning after he pitched three scoreless at the start.

"Apparently. They didn't hit home runs early in the game and they did late. I don't know," he said.