O's game blog: David Hess starts as O's look for series split

Right-hander David Hess (1-0, 4.50 ERA) will make his second major league start this afternoon when the Orioles end a four-game series at Boston. They'll need a victory today to split this four-game series that is the start of an 11-game road trip.

Hess made his big league debut on three days' rest and he'll pitch today on seven days' rest. A week ago yesterday, he got the win over Tampa Bay in Game 1 of a doubleheader in Baltimore. Over six innings, he allowed six hits and three runs with no walks and three strikeouts. After yielding a first-inning three-run homer to Matt Duffy, he shut down the Rays from the second through the sixth on two hits.

After winning his debut Hess said: "I can't really even put it into words. It is just an experience that you literally dream about since you were a kid. It is hard to put into words, but it definitely has been everything and more that I hoped it would be."

Hess, 24, has gone 6-0 with a 2.12 ERA for Triple-A Norfolk this year, allowing one run or none in five of six starts. Over 29 2/3 innings, he has allowed 20 hits and 12 walks while recording 29 strikeouts. Lefty batters hit just .131 against him and right-handers are batting .267.

Former Orioles farmhand Eduardo Rodriguez (3-1, 4.68 ERA) gets the start for Boston and it will be his ninth of the season. On the year, he has thrown 42 1/3 innings, allowing 35 hits and seven homers with 16 walks, 51 strikeouts and a .220 batting average against.

In four home starts, he is 1-1 with a 5.79 ERA and .288 opponent batting average. Rodriguez has recorded three quality starts and the Red Sox are 7-1 in his starts. They were 7-0 before a 5-3 loss to Oakland in his last start when he allowed three runs in five innings.

Rodriguez has allowed just a .104 average when pitching versus lefty batters and .244 against right-handers. He gives up a .321 mark with runners in scoring position.

Rodriguez faced the Orioles earlier this year and got the win on April 13. Over six innings, he gave up five hits and one run on 104 pitches. In three 2017 starts against Baltimore, he went 1-2 with a 5.89 ERA, allowing five homers in 18 1/3 innings. In 11 career starts, he is 4-5 with a 4.35 ERA and 1.217 WHIP.

The Orioles (14-31) have won six of their past 10 games. But over a longer stretch, they have lost 17 of 25 and 25 of 35 games. They are 1-14 in the last 15 road games. Despite scoring just three runs last night, the Orioles have scored 71 runs and hit 23 home runs over the last 11 games.

Boston (31-15) is 14-13 since beginning the year 17-2. The Red Sox are 14-7 at home and 19-9 versus American League East clubs. Boston is 8-1 in its last nine games versus the Orioles.