O's Offense Stifled in 1-0 Loss to Red Sox
The Baltimore Orioles were beaten by the Boston Red Sox by a score of 1-0 in a rain delayed game Tuesday night. The Oriole offense was shut down by Red Sox pitching on the night, as the team could only manage two hits in the entire game.
Orioles third baseman Manny Machado was suspended for five games and fined an undisclosed amount of money prior to the game; however, the reigning American League Platinum Glove winner was able to play Tuesday night against the Red Sox because he appealed the suspension.
Baltimore starter Chris Tillman started the night off well, getting the first four Red Sox batters out on just eight combined pitches. Following a short 15 minute rain delay in the top of the 2nd inning, the game was somehow allowed to continue despite precipitation still falling on the field. In a tough situation, Tillman issued a four-pitch walk to Mike Napoli, an opposite field single to A.J. Pierzynski, and a walk to Grady Sizemore to load the bases with two outs. With the bags full, Boston shortstop Jonathan Herrera struck out swinging to end the threat in the rain.
Following a Chris Davis strikeout in what Forrest Gump would have called “big ol’ fat rain”, a second rain delay was issued in the bottom of the 2nd inning (this one lasted about 1 hour and 18 minutes). With some uncertainty to whether Tillman would come back out for the 3rd inning after the lengthy delay, the ace would in fact stay in the game, but quickly ran into trouble in the inning.
Brock Holt led off the top of the 3rd inning for Boston with a single to center field (his second hit in the first two innings). David Ortiz then walked to give the Red Sox runners on first and second with two outs. Napoli got the Red Sox on the board with an RBI bloop single in front of Nick Markakis in right field. Tillman would get out of the inning without suffering further damage; however, the Orioles starter would throw 31 pitches in the frame.
With the Baltimore lineup going hitless through their first time in the order, Tillman was quickly back out on top of the hill in the 4th inning. Pierzynski, Sizemore, and Herrera hit consecutive singles to lead off the inning for the Red Sox. With the bases loaded yet again, Tillman was able to settle down and get out of the inning without giving up a run. Tillman struck out Holt, and then forced Xander Bogaerts to hit into an inning-ending double play.
Although Tillman did not have the most efficient game, he did battle through two rain delays and gave the Orioles six strong innings while only allowing one run. Tillman threw 100 pitches (61 for strikes) in the six innings, gave up 7 hits, 3 walks, while striking out 3 Red Sox batters.
Red Sox pinch hitter Jonny Gomes came off of the bench to hit a two-out single in the top of 8th inning off of reliever Brian Matusz. Pierzynski followed up the hit with what looked like a towering two-run home run; however, Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis had other plans for the cocky catcher. The Gold Glove outfielder made a leaping catch against the wall to save two runs and end the inning in the process.
With the Orioles down to their final three outs in the game, Steve Pearce (pinch hitting for catcher Caleb Joseph) led off the 9th inning with a single to left field. Flaherty tried to put down a sacrifice bunt to move Pearce into scoring position, but the second baseman bunted the ball too close to Red Sox pitcher Koji Uehara, and the former Oriole gunned down Pearce at second base. Uehara was able to strike out both Markakis and Machado to end the game. The strike out for Markakis saw his hitting streak halt at 14 games.
The Orioles and Red Sox will be back at it again Wednesday night in the rubber match of the three-game set. Baltimore will send Wei-Yin Chen (6-2, 4.13 ERA) to the mound, while Boston will try to leave Camden Yards with a series win with Rubby De La Rosa (1-1, 2.84 ERA) on the hill.
