Matusz knocked out early as O's fail to get series sweep at Fenway

Brian Matusz's return to pitching respectability took a hit tonight at Fenway Park in Boston. Matusz lasted just one batter into the third inning tonight as Boston beat the Orioles 7-0 to avoid a three-game sweep. Matusz struggled pretty much from the first pitch tonight, walking two batters in the first inning and three in the second. After he gave up a leadoff single in the third, that was it for Matusz, who fell to 5-6 with an ERA of 4.82. He entered this outing at 4-1 with an ERA of 2.87 over his last five starts and with an ERA of 3.33 over his previous eight starts. But, he gave up a two-run double to Adrian Gonzalez in the first and allowed two more runs in the second. He threw 37 pitches in that first inning and gave up four hits and five runs (four earned) on the night, in two-plus innings. Of his 67 pitches tonight, just 33 went for strikes. The O's offense struggled almost as much as Matusz, scattering just four hits tonight. The team was shut out by Boston's starter Clay Buchholz, who pitched his third career complete game shutout, all of which have come against Baltimore. The Orioles seven-game win streak at Boston ended, and they are now 5-1 at Fenway this year. They were trying to record two three-game sweeps in one season in Boston for the first time ever. The Orioles now return home at 32-23 after a 3-6 road trip. They scored just 25 runs during the nine games. The Orioles host Philadelphia over the weekend at Camden Yards. In Game 1 of the series on Friday night, it's Jake Arrieta (2-7, 5.53 ERA) against the Phillies Joe Blanton (4-6, 5.27 ERA).