O's game blog: Looking for two in a row over Boston

After their biggest offensive night of the season, scoring their most runs since they got 18 on June 6, 2021 versus Cleveland, the Orioles look for a second win over Boston today at Camden Yards. 

If they get it, they will be 3-1 this year in series against the Red Sox. The O's took two of three at home in late April, went 3-2 at Boston in late May and were 0-1 Aug. 11 at Boston (that one game does count as a series).

The Orioles (62-57) begin play today 1.5 games back of Tampa Bay for the third AL wild card spot with Minnesota just 1/2 behind the Rays. 

The Orioles are now 34-22 at home and have won 16 of their last 21 games at Oriole Park. 

On the mound today for the Orioles will be right-hander Kyle Bradish (1-4, 6.38 ERA), who gave up six hits and three runs over 4 2/3 innings on Monday versus Toronto. In four starts since coming off the injured list, he has an ERA of 4.05, allowing nine earned runs over 20 innings. In that span, he has given up a .253 batting average and .741 OPS.

Lefties hit .247 with an OPS of .715 off Bradish and right-handers bat a robust .353/1.013. He is 0-3 with a 6.52 ERA in eight home starts.

Boston (59-61) has lost its last two games, after winning their previous three. They are 5-3 in their last eight and 11-16 since the All-Star break. The Sox have won each of the last three series: 1-0 versus Baltimore, 2-1 against the Yankees and 2-1 at Pittsburgh. It is their longest series winning streak since taking seven straight from June 3-26.

The Red Sox today are starting righty Michael Wacha (7-1, 2.44 ERA) to make his 15th start. Boston is 10-4 in his games and for the year he has a 1.047 WHIP with a 2.7 walk rate and 6.9 strikeout rate.

Last Sunday he pitched seven scoreless versus the Yankees on 89 pitches. This season, lefties bat just .156/.477 off him and right handers hit .242/.672 against Wacha.

The O's produced a season-high 39 total bases last night, their most since producing 40 against Houston on Aug. 18, 2016. It marked the 13th time in franchise history with at least 39 total bases in a game. The O's had seven different players tally multi-hit efforts for the first time since June 8, 2021 against the New York Mets, also seven.

Catcher Adley Rutschman hit one of the Orioles season-high tying five home runs. All eight of his homers this season have come as a left-handed hitter. And he sports a .464 OBP since the All-Star Break.

Anthony Santander (3-for-5, HR, 2B, 3 R, 4 RBI) crushed his career-high and team-leading 21st homer of the year in the third inning, snapping an 0-for-14 streak. He tied a career high with four RBIs and now has 16 RBIs in 10 games against Boston this season.

Ryan Mountcastle (2-for-5, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI) slugged his 17th homer in the fourth inning; has 13 career home runs in August, his second-most in any month behind 16 homers in June.

Baltimore shortstop Jorge Mateo (1-for-5, HR, R, 3 RBI) produced his 12th homer of the season, a three-run long ball in the second inning to record his fourth game this season with at least three RBIs. 

Sunday night the Orioles and Boston will play in the MLB Little League Classic at Muncy Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field in Williamsport, PA. The venue is home to the Williamsport Crosscutters, members of the MLB Draft League after time as a short season Single-A affiliate in the Cubs (1994-98), Pirates (1999- 2006), and Phillies (2007-20) organizations. Game time is 7:10 p.m.