Oriloes @ Red Sox Preview

The Red Sox had a great comeback last night, and this offense is rolling, but tonight could be a lot more difficult with Britton on the hill for Baltimore and the Wake trying to hold it together for the Red Sox. Britton has faced the Red Sox once in his career, but he looked damn strong going 6 innings allowing only 1 run, plus he is 5-2 with a 2.42 ERA. This is a different Boston offense then it was on April 26th, so hopefully they can light him up.

This will be Wakefield's third start of the season and last time out he was hit hard, allowing 8 runs, 9 hits and 4 walks in 4 1/3 innings. For Sox fans you hope Wakefield can go 5 innings and allow no more then 4 runs. That's really what you are asking for from the 44 year old.

It will be tough to score on Britton, but I do think they can wear him out, and we saw just how bad the Orioles bullpen is last night. So, I think the Sox might have to comeback in this game, but I do think they can win.

Red Sox win 7-5
Player of the Game: Youk
Game starts at 7:10pm

Red Sox 8 Orioles 7

The Red Sox were down 6-0 in the 6th inning. Dice-K had one of "typical" games letting up 5 ER in 4 1/4 walking 7 batters and throwing 106 pitches. The Red Sox offense looked stagnant, and it just seemed like it was going to be a blowout loss.

Yet, it was the Sox offense that kicked into high gear and crushed their way back into the game. Boston scored 5 runs in the 6th inning with Lowrie, Tek, Gonzalez, and Youk all driving in runs. These hopes seemed to be dashed Mark Reynolds too Aceves deep in the top of the 7th, but once again Tek knocked in another run in the bottom of the inning.

By the way Tek is hitting almost .400 over the last 8 days.

Yet, tonight it was Gonzalez once again who put this team on his back. Smacked a ball off the Green Monster driving in 2 runs to put the Red Sox above .500 for the first time all year.

The Sox offense is getting going, but they haven't hit their peak yet. Wait till Youk and Pedroia really start rolling. I am a little worried about the rotation with Lackey going to the DL, and Dice-K doing normal up and down thing, but this team is going to be able to smash the ball most nights, and will never be really out of a game.

With the win the Red Sox are in a 3 way tie for 2nd place in the AL East, just 3 games behind the Rays.

Oriloes @ Red Sox Preview

The Red Sox are finally a .500 baseball team, after sweeping the Yankees the Red Sox are riding high. Everything seems to be coming into place for the Sox, they are hitting and get decent outings from their starting pitchers (the exception of that assclown Lackey). Tonight, it's Tillman vs. Dice-K.

You never know what you are going to get from Dice-K, but overall I think he has been turning the corner. He let up three runs in the first inning last time out, but was able to settle down and give the Sox 6 strong innings. If he can pitch 6 innings each time out, and let up no more then 4 runs I'll take that every time from Dice-K. On the season he is 3-3 with a 4.64 ERA. Although I feel good about Dice-K you have to be worried about his numbers against the Orioles going 4-3 with a 5.73 ERA including 1-2 with a 7.56 ERA in three starts last year.

Tillman was a praised prospect that really hasn't panned out year for Baltimore, though he is coming off his best start of the season going 6 innings allowing 1 run on three hits. Still, he is 2-3 with a 6.15 ERA, so one would think Boston could do some damage tonight with the way they have been hitting.

Red Sox win 7-4
Player of the Game: Gonzalez
Game starts at 7:10pm

6 Red Sox, 2 Baltimore

It was a good game to win with the Sox losing the 2 previous games against the Orioles. The Sox had their the 2nd best pitcher on the mound and he rewarded the team with a great outing. After a shaky start Jon Lester was able to straighten out he yielded two runs on four hits, walked three and struck out five in 8 innings to go 3-1 on the year.

As for the offense it has been good to see Adrian starting to hit left and right. He went 3-5 with 2 rbis, Jacoby Ellsbury re payed the Sox for the lead off spot by going 3-5 with 2 rbis.

They went 6-3 on the road trip which is pretty good figuring they went 0-7 last road trip. They come home tonight to take on the Mariners.

Box Score

Red Sox @ Orioles Preview

Nothing has been going right for the Red Sox this series. Their starting pitching (Beckett/Buchholz) hasn't been sharp, they aren't scoring runs, and even their bullpen has let them down.

Tonight we get the Red Sox ace Jon Lester on the hill, and one would hope he will do what an "ace" does, and that's stop losing streaks. Lester has never lost to the Orioles, he is currently 13-0 with a 2.33 ERA against them, which is pretty incredible. Against Lester will be Brad Bergesen, who is terrible (0-3 5.40). If the Red Sox don't crush him tonight you really have to question what the hell is wrong with their lineup.

I see a blowout tonight, and I think Lester will throw a gem, because...well he always does against the Orioles.

Red Sox 6-1
Player of the Game: Lester/Ortiz
Game starts at 7:05pm

5 Baltimore, 4 Red Sox

Well that was a little bit of a kick in the nuts. After the Bruins won in OT, you thought that the magic would work with the Sox, especially since they were able to tie a 4-0 deficit thanks to a Gonzalez RBI and a Youk 3 run homerun in the 8th.

But then Nick Markakis opened the Baltimore eighth with a single off Daniel Bard, and Derrek Lee followed with a single to left. Both moved up on a passed ball by Jason Queeratek, and with Guerrero at the plate, Markakis was thrown out trying to score on a pitch that passed the Captain again. Vlad then bounced the ball passed the pitcher, the Orioles took the 5-4 lead and that was all the Orioles needed.

Beckett regressed a little from his stellar starts by letting up 4 runs, 7 hits, in 6 innings. I wouldn't look too much into it, shit happens. Also, I hate losing to the Rex Ryan of baseball Buck Showalter, I hope he goes to the hell.

Box Score

Red Sox @ Orioles Preview

The Red Sox got exposed last night by yet another left hander last night, the good news is tongiht they go against a righty. I don't feel like I have been able to say that a lot this year, but Jeremy Guthrie on the hill I expect the Red Sox lineup to come alive. Not just because he is a righty, but because he is 1-7 against the Sox with a 4.94 ERA.

Beckett is on the hill for Boston, and he has been fucking awesome this year (2-1 1.93 ERA), if he is back to being the old Beckett the Sox (and their fans) are in for a treat tonight. Overall Beckett has had pretty good success against Baltimore going 6-3 with a 3.53 ERA). I think tonight you are going to see a bunch of strikeouts for Beckett, because the Orioles have a bunch of guys that are "free swingers" (Vlad, Reynolds, Lee, Jones, ect).

Boston bounced back tonight with a big win, and I am hoping to see the long ball tonight for guys like Ortiz and Gonzalez.

Red Sox win 8-1
Player of the Game: Beckett/Gonzalez
Game starts at 7:05pm

4 Orioles, 1 Red Sox

It's not like Zack Britton pitched a great game against the Sox he pitched 6 innings let up 5 hits, 1er, 2bb, 2ks but he kept the red hot Red Sox offense at bay. He became the first rookie starter in franchise history to win four games in April. He has an impressive 2.84 ERA and owns nearly half of Baltimore's nine victories this year. Meanwhile, Clay Buchholz continues to struggle this year as he let up 12 hits and 4 runs in 6.2 innings.

Adam Jones drove in two runs for the Orioles, who won for only the third time in 14 games, and Vladimir Guerrero had his first three-hit game since coming to Baltimore as a free agent during the offseason.

Youk drove in the only run for the Sox. It was a pretty boring game to be honest.