masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgWell, at least for now.

Matt Wieters was one more failed at-bat from being 0-for-21, the longest hitless stretch of his career. He fouled off six straight pitches from former Orioles left-hander Rich Hill before lining an RBI single into left field to reduce Boston’s lead to 8-6.

Everybody rejoice.

Wieters won a nine-pitch battle with Hill, who began the inning by giving up singles to Nick Markakis and Adam Jones. Jones extended his hitting streak to 13 games, tying his career long.

Now we…Well, at least for now.

Matt Wieters was one more failed at-bat from being 0-for-21, the longest hitless stretch of his career. He fouled off six straight pitches from former Orioles left-hander Rich Hill before lining an RBI single into left field to reduce Boston’s lead to 8-6.

Everybody rejoice.

Wieters won a nine-pitch battle with Hill, who began the inning by giving up singles to Nick Markakis and Adam Jones. Jones extended his hitting streak to 13 games, tying his career long.

Now we can say that Wieters is 1-for-21 and 5-for-43.

Hill departed after retiring Chris Davis on a slow roller to the right side of the mound.

Davis came within an inch, maybe less, of an extra-base hit down the right-field line before making the first out of the inning. First base umpire Larry Vanover signaled foul ball. I never saw a replay, but it looked fair from up in the press box.

Vicente Padilla retired Wilson Betemit on a fly ball to shallow left field, with Jones forced to hold at third base. Nick Johnson struck out, and the Orioles left the tying runs in scoring position.

Update: Alfredo Aceves retired the Orioles in order in the bottom of the ninth inning, and Boston won the first game of the series, 8-6.

The Orioles wasted a golden opportunity in the eighth with Betemit and Johnson at the plate. Tommy Hunter wasn’t sharp again tonight and the bullpen wasn’t its usual shutdown self.

That’s two games in a row where the Orioles have led by three runs and ended up on the wrong side of the final score.