O’s fall short in Boston
Boston — Former Baltimore Orioles farm hand Eduardo Rodriguez (W, 1-2) faced his old organization Friday night and reminded them what they once had.
Rodriguez retired the first 14 batters he faced and allowed just two runs and three hits while striking out eight in 6.2 innings of work. The Boston bullpen did enough to hold on, in a 6-4 Red Sox win.
David Hess (L, 1-2) opposed Rodriguez, and started out sharp as well, but with two outs in the bottom of the 3rd inning left fielder Andrew Benintendi took Hess deep over the Green Monster, giving the Sox a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the 4th, first baseman Mitch Moreland lined a single off Hess. Two batters later shortstop Xander Bogaerts smoked a double to center field, scoring Moreland. Bogaerts finished 3-for-4.
Bogaerts would score two batters later on a two-out single to left field by third baseman Eduardo Nunez, extending the Boston lead to 3-0.
Hess would get into the 6th inning, but was releived by left hander Paul Fry who retired Rafael Devers to end the inning with Bogaerts on first.
Baltimore, however, wouldn’t quit. First baseman Trey Mancini smacked a double off the glove of the leaping Mookie Betts in right field.
Two batters later, left fielder Dwight Smith Jr. hooked a fly ball down the right field line that curled into the seats for his second home run of the season.
The two-run homer brought the Orioles to within a run and chased Rodriguez.
Fry retired the first two batters in the bottom of the 7th, but then began to run into trouble. He allowed a single to catcher Christian Vasquez, and then tossed a wild pitch, advancing Vasquez to third.
Benintendi would single, advancing Vasquez to third which would spell the end of Fry’s night.
Right hander Evan Phillips was called from the bullpen by Orioles manager Brandon Hyde, but Phillips would uncork a wild pitch that plated Vasquez, giving Boston a 4-2 lead.
In the top of the 8th, the Red Sox defense would take center stage. With two outs and a runner on first, Orioles right fielder Joey Rickard lashed a drive to deep center field, but Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley, Jr. made an outstanding leaping catch against the wall which ended the inning and saved a run.
Unfortunately for Baltimore, Phillips didn’t fool anyone in the bottom of the 8th. Designated hitter J.D. Martinez roped a double to lead off the inning. Bogaerts then followed with an infield single.
A sacrifice bunt by Devers moved the runners up. Another infield single, this one off the bat of Eduardo Nunez, scored Martinez.
Bradley, Jr. wrapped up the Red Sox attack with a sacrifice fly that brought home Bogaerts. It was now a 6-2 Boston lead.
Right hander Tyler Thornburg was called on in the 9th for the Red Sox, but he would struggle. He walked Mancini to lead off the inning and then allowed a towering home run to designated hitter Renato Nunez.
The Orioles, though, could not draw any closer as Ryan Brasier relieved Thornburg and recorded his third save of the season.
The series continues tomorrow at 1:05 pm. Baltimore’s Andrew Cashner (2-1, 5.28) will oppose Rick Porcello (0-2, 13.50)
