Matusz with a gem as O's top Boston, 6-1

Brian Matusz continued his stellar pitching vs. the AL East today and provided the Orioles with a big lift as he pitched the Birds past Boston 6-1 in the series finale at Fenway Park. Matusz also ended a 13-start winless drought and won for the first time since April 18 vs. Oakland. Matusz allowed just two hits over seven innings. He walked three and tied his career-high with eight strikeouts as he threw 111 pitches. Matusz stranded two runners on base in the third and fourth innings. John Lackey allowed four runs to take the loss. He improved to 3-9, 4.56 on the sesason and in eight starts this year vs. AL East opponents, Matusz is now 2-3, 2.90. Matusz is 1-0, 2.41 in three starts on the season vs. Boston and the Orioles are 2-1 in those games. The Orioles reach the mid-point of the season with a record of 25-56 after 81 games. They scored two runs each in the 4th, 8th and 9th getting RBI from Nick Markakis, Ty Wigginton, Adam Jones, Julio Lugo and Scott Moore. Markakis and Cesar Izturis had three hits each. Josh Bell, who went 0 for 3, left the game in the 8th due to right leg cramps, after swinging and missing at a pitch. The Birds are 1-2 on this road trip and now 6-6 on the season vs. Boston after going just 2-16 last year. The O's road trip heads to Detroit for the next three games. Monday afternoon at 1:05, Kevin Millwood (2-8, 5.40) pitches for Baltimore vs. Detroit's lefty Andy Oliver (0-2, 3.00).