Short outing for Jimenez (Cruz has five hits, O's win 7-4 in Game 2)

BOSTON - The walks were bound to hurt Ubaldo Jimenez tonight. Jimenez didn't make it out of the fourth inning, turning in his second-shortest outing of the season in Game 2 of a doubleheader against the Red Sox. Jimenez tied his season high with six walks, the last to Mike Napoli leading off the bottom of the fourth. Stephen Drew followed with a two-run homer to tie the game - the first hit off Jimenez. Drew also homered in Game 1, his first since re-signing with the Red Sox. The Red Sox strung together four straight hits, including an RBI double by Brock Holt and run-scoring single by Daniel Nava that ended Jimenez's night. Mookie Betts did him a favor by getting thrown out trying to advance to second following a single. Jimenez lasted only 2 1/3 innings against the Athletics on June 8. He walked six Yankees on June 20. Brad Brach replaced Jimenez, who's charged with four runs and five hits in 3 2/3 innings, with six walks, four strikeouts and a home run. He threw 80 pitches, 44 for strikes. Jimenez had walked three batters in his last two starts covering 14 1/3 innings, but he lost the plate again tonight. And his release point. Jimenez has allowed 34 earned runs in 32 2/3 career innings versus the Red Sox, giving him a 9.37 ERA in seven starts. Nelson Cruz hit his 27th home run, matching his total from last season, to reduce Boston's lead to 4-3 in the fifth. The ball cleared the Green Monster and slammed off the AAA sign above the seats. Cruz is a triple short of the cycle. Red Sox starter John Lackey has recorded 10 strikeouts in five innings. Masahiro Tanaka is the only other pitcher with 10 strikeouts against the Orioles this season. Chris Davis struck out in his last three at-bats in Game 1, and he's struck out in his first three at-bats in Game 2. Down on the farm, Single-A Frederick outfielder Mike Yastrzemski hit for the cycle tonight. He tripled in the ninth inning to complete it. Yastrzemski had 10 triples at low Single-A Delmarva before moving up to Frederick. Update: The Orioles scored four runs in the sixth to take a 7-4 lead and knock Lackey out of the game. They sent nine batters to the plate. Steve Pearce tied the game with an RBI single off reliever Burke Badenhop and the go-ahead run scored on right fielder Daniel Nava's error on Adam Jones' single. Cruz had an RBI single, his eighth career four-game game, and another run scored on J.J. Hardy's fielder's choice grounder. Davis walked before Hardy came to the plate. The Orioles are trying to avoid being swept in a doubleheader for the first time since July 3, 2011 in New York. Brad Brach tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings, raising his total to nine over his last six outings. Tommy Hunter retired the Red Sox in order with two strikeouts in the bottom of the sixth. Update II: Cruz has a career-high five hits tonight. He's the first Oriole with five hits since J.J. Hardy in the 17-inning game here on May 6, 2012, and the first Oriole in a nine inning game since Nick Markakis on July 3, 2011 in Atlanta. Cruz tried for the cycle in the eighth and was thrown out at third base, bringing smiles from everyone in the Orioles' dugout, including Showalter. Hunter retired all five batters he faced, and Brian Matusz retired David Ortiz on a long fly ball to center field to end the seventh. Ortiz is 1-for-22 with 13 strikeouts against Matusz. Darren O'Day retired the side in order with two strikeouts in the eighth. Markakis has two hits in the doubleheader and needs 98 more to tie Boog Powell for fifth place on the club's all-time list. Still counting. Update III: The Orioles gained a split of the doubleheader with a 7-4 victory in Game 2. The bullpen tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings, with Zach Britton recording his 13th save in 15 opportunities. The Orioles are 47-40 overall and 18-12 at Fenway since the Kevin Gregg-David Ortiz incident on July 8, 2011.



Hearing from Showalter, Jimenez and Cruz after Gam...
Gonzalez, Zimmerman and Ramos on 13-0 win over Cub...
 

By accepting you will be accessing a service provided by a third-party external to https://www.masnsports.com/