O's game blog: O's looking for a doubleheader split

After getting blown out 19-3 earlier today, the Orioles play at Boston again tonight. It will conclude this three-game series, a day-night doubleheader and the Orioles road schedule for 2018.

The Red Sox had nine doubles by nine different players and five homers from four players in winning the opener, scoring five runs in the first, three in the fourth, two each in the fifth and sixth, three runs in the seventh and four in the last of the eighth. Rafael Devers, Xander Bogaerts and J.D. Martinez combined for 13 RBIs. Devers went 4-for-6 with two homers and six RBIs.

Four of the five Orioles pitchers were scored on as Boston went 22-for-45 and 9-for-16 with runners in scoring position. The Orioles' Jace Peterson joined Danny Valencia as position players who pitched this year when he was on the mound in the eighth, and he allowed six hits and four runs. Today was the 21st time this year the Orioles allowed 10 or more runs in a game, and fifth time in the past 17 games.

The Orioles (45-112) have lost eight of 11, 18 of 23 and 33 of their last 43 games. They fall to 18-62 on the road and have lost eight of their past nine away from Baltimore.

Down 5-0 after an inning, the Orioles scored three in the second off David Price. Trey Mancini drilled a ball 111 mph to left for his 24th homer, which tied Manny Machado for the team lead. Renato Núñez hit a two-run homer, but the Orioles didn't score after that inning and went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

Orioles right-hander Jimmy Yacabonis (0-2, 6.34 ERA) gets his sixth start tonight. Yacabonis recorded his first career scoreless start last Wednesday in Baltimore. In four innings versus Toronto he gave up two hits with one walk and four strikeouts. He pitched out of a bases-loaded, no-outs jam in the fourth.

For the season, Yacabonis has thrown 32 2/3 innings, allowing 35 hits, eight homers, 12 walks and with 30 strikeouts and a .276 batting average. The Orioles are 2-3 in his starts.

Yacabonis has pitched well early in his starts, allowing a 1.80 ERA in the first inning and an ERA of 1.50 in the second inning. But that goes up to 10.29 in the third. He started Aug. 11 at Oriole Park against Boston. In 4 2/3 he gave up five hits and three runs to the Red Sox.

He will be opposed by Cy Young Award candidate Chris Sale (12-4, 2.00 ERA). The left-hander has been to the disabled list twice in the second half of the season with left shoulder inflammation, throwing just 12 1/3 innings since July 28.

But he has sure pitched well this year, and especially since late June. In his past 10 starts, he is 6-0 with an 0.53 ERA. In 51 1/3 innings he's allowed 29 hits and just three runs with six walks and 89 strikeouts. Boston is 10-0 in those starts and 18-8 for the year. Batters are hitting just .153 (13-for-85) against Sale since the All-Star break.

In three starts this season against the Orioles, Sale is 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA and 0.688 WHIP. In 16 innings, he's allowed five hits and two runs with six walks and 29 strikeouts. In 17 career games (11 starts) he is 7-2 with a 2.49 ERA and 1.134 WHIP.

In falling to 2-16 against Boston with that loss in the opener, the Orioles allowed a season-high 22 hits, the most they've given up since they surrendered 24 at Yankee Stadium on July 30, 2011. The 19 runs allowed tied a season high, also set versus Boston, and the 19 earned runs allowed is a season high.

The 16-run margin of defeat from the opener is the Orioles' worst loss since a 30-3 defeat at home against Texas on Aug. 22, 2007, and that was also the opener of a doubheader.