O's hold their own against Boston

Don't look now, but since going a miserable 2-16 versus Boston in 2009, the Orioles are now 10-9 over their past 19 games against the Sox after Tuesday's 4-1 win at Camden Yards. That includes a mark of 6-4 at home in the last 10 versus Boston. It is certainly nice to see the O's hold their own against one of the East's big boys. Other impressions from a very solid 4-1 win: * Zach Britton was impressive again. If he had been able to turn a double play on the hot smash hit at him by Adrian Gonzalez in the fourth, this might have been a shutout for the Orioles. Britton is now 2-0 with an ERA of 1.50 in two starts against the American League East. In games versus Tampa and Boston, he has allowed just two runs and eight hits over 12 innings. Three times now, Britton has allowed one run or fewer. His ground ball to fly ball out ratio is now 42-to-17 through five starts. That is impressive and in keeping with his great ratio there from the minor leagues. This just in - the sinker is as good as advertised. * Adam Jones has had an impressive string of at-bats. From his three-run homer off CC Sabathia Saturday, to his ninth-inning walk Sunday versus Mariano Rivera, to two big sac flies last night, Jones is getting some things done for this club right now. He now has eight RBIs over his past seven games. Throw in some bunt hits he has gotten and Jones is flashing a lot of talent on offense and defense in recent days. * The middle of the order with Derrek Lee, Vlad Guerrero and Luke Scott went a combined 7-for-12 in the win with all four runs scored. Scott is 4-for-8 over his past two games and Vlad is 10-for-25 over the last six games with two homers and seven RBIs. His average is at a season-high .287 right now, and last night was his first Orioles' three-hit game. Lee went 2-for-5 and scored twice. While he has now gone 16 games without an RBI, he seems to perhaps slowly be putting some things together. I can see him breaking out big-time soon, but I have predicted that before. * Jim Johnson is pitching lights out right now. Four straight appearances with no runs allowed over five innings and he has six strikeouts in that span. I say leave him pitching right where he is, in innings six, seven and/or eight. You can't get an official save then, but you can save the day by getting big outs in those innings. Johnson is doing that big time for this team right now. * Kevin Gregg had an impressive 1-2-3 ninth on just 10 pitches. That is three straight scoreless appearances for him with two saves in that time. While some fans probably won't ever accept him as closer after a shaky start, he will be important for this bullpen this year and maybe he has slowly turned a corner in these recent appearances.