Red Sox manager Terry Francona called upon closer Jonathan Papelbon to get a five-out save tonight.
He got a blown save instead.
Robert Andino lined a three-run double into the right field corner with two outs and the count full to give the Orioles a 7-5 lead in the eighth inning.
Matt Wieters and Mark Reynolds singled off Daniel Bard. Francona brought in Papelbon with one out, and the right-hander responded by getting a called third strike on Chris Davis.
Plate umpire Mark Wegner's...
Rick VandenHurk's second start with the Orioles this month didn't do much to enhance his standing within the organization.
VandenHurk couldn't record an out in the fourth inning and he couldn't hold a 4-1 lead.
Jo-Jo Reyes replaced him with runners on first and second, no outs and the Orioles ahead, 4-3. Jacoby Ellsbury singled to load the bases. Reyes struck out Dustin Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez appeared to bounce into a 3-6-3 double play, but first baseman Mark Reynolds missed catcher...
It's tough to get a group of sportswriters and broadcasters to agree on anything, but I don't recall many divided opinions in the Most Valuable Oriole voting that takes place during the final month of every season.
The second- and third-place finishers can bring a heated debate, but the winner usually takes the honor by a fairly wide margin.
Luke Scott was the overwhelming choice last year, though at least two voters refused to pick him. Something about his .214 average with runners in...
Rick VandenHurk fell behind, 1-0, tonight after facing three Red Sox batters.
Back-to-back one-out doubles by Dustin Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez in the first inning gave Boston an early lead. Gonzalez is 3-for-4 with two doubles and a home run lifetime against VandenHurk, who hasn't pitched since Sept. 10 in Toronto.
That's what you would call extended rest.
VandenHurk lasted only 2 1/3 innings in his last start, allowing three runs and three hits - including two home runs - and walking...
Adam Jones is starting in center field tonight and Mark Reynolds is back at first base. The lineup looks fairly normal again.
Jones hasn't started since Sept. 9 because of a sprained right thumb.
For the Orioles:
Robert Andino 2B
J.J. Hardy SS
Nick Markakis RF
Vladimir Guerrero DH
Matt Wieters C
Adam Jones CF
Mark Reynolds 1B
Chris Davis 3B
Nolan Reimold LF
Rick VandenHurk RHP
VandenHurk hasn't pitched since Sept. 10 in Toronto, when he allowed three runs and three hits, including two...
Should we believe that Jim Johnson is going to make a start before the 2011 season comes to a merciful end?
It's not necessary.
The Orioles can decide over the winter that Johnson belongs in the rotation. They can put him on a starter's schedule in spring training. They can change their minds at any time and return him to the bullpen.
It's not like he'll be stretched out so far that he can't snap back to a short-relief role. He's not a rubber band.
Johnson hasn't been formally named...
Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz might not pitch again this season, which would deny him the chance to lower his ERA and avoid a most dubious distinction.
According to STATSPASS, Matusz's 10.68 ERA is the highest in major league history for any pitcher with at least 10 starts. I'm providing the Top 10 below. I'm only including the number of starts, not relief appearances.
Keep in mind that his record hasn't been updated. He's facing another loss unless the Orioles rally tonight. They...
I predicted in spring training that left-hander Brian Matusz would emerge as the staff ace. Then I thought the Orioles would keep in at Triple-A Norfolk for an extended period, but they recalled him. Then I thought they would continue to send him to the mound every five days, but they pulled him from the rotation after his Sept. 5 start in New York. Then I thought they would keep him in the bullpen for the rest of the season, but they gave him the start tonight in Game 2 of a doubleheader in...
No lead is safe at Fenway Park, but the Orioles are bold enough to try.
They jumped on right-hander John Lackey for three runs in the top of the first inning, bringing more angst to Red Sox Nation.
Matt Angle singled and stole his eighth base. J.J. Hardy walked, and Angle sprinted home on Nick Markakis' single.
That's 1-0.
Vladimir Guerrero lined a sacrifice fly to right field - if you can line a fly ball. I've never heard of a sacrifice line drive.
That's 2-0.
Chris Davis drove in...
Maybe Adam Jones can get back into the lineup tomorrow night. He's missing again in Game 2.
Jones was a defensive replacement in Game 1.
For the Orioles:
Matt Angle CF
J.J. Hardy SS
Nick Markakis RF
Vladimir Guerrero DH
Chris Davis 1B
Robert Andino 3B
Nolan Reimold LF
Ryan Adams 2B
Craig Tatum C
Brian Matusz LHP
For the Red Sox:
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Marco Scutaro SS
Adrian Gonzalez 1B
Dustin Pedroia 2B
David Ortiz DH
Jed Lowrie 3B
Conor Jackson LF
Jason Varitek C
Darnell McDonald...
Manager Buck Showalter played the matchup game in the eighth inning with the Orioles clinging to a 6-5 lead.
He won.
Now, the Orioles will try to do the same.
Clay Rapada faced David Ortiz to open the bottom of the eighth and retired him on one pitch, which resulted in a liner to short.
Left-handed hitters are 4-for-43 against Rapada this season and 5-for-62 over the past two seasons. Right-handers are batting .692 this year, so Showalter brought in Pedro Strop to face pinch hitter Ryan...
Now it's Matt Angle's turn to fight the sun and whatever else is distracting the outfielders today at Fenway Park.
Angle misplayed Dustin Pedroia's long fly ball to center field in the fifth inning, resulting in a triple that scored Adrian Gonzalez and reduced the Orioles' lead to 6-4.
Jeremy Guthrie got the first two outs, fell behind 3-0 to Marco Scutaro and walked him with the count full by missing with a slider. Gonzalez followed with an RBI double - Angle had trouble picking up the...
Nolan Reimold misplayed a ball in left field today because of the bright sun at Fenway Park. The Red Sox couldn't take advantage and stranded four runners in two innings.
Darnell McDonald, who joined the Rex Sox's lineup late after Carl Crawford was scratched, misplayed two straight fly balls in the top of the third, as the Orioles took a 2-0 lead on Matt Angle's two-run double.
Both starters need to concentrate on ground balls.
McDonald,a former first-round pick by the Orioles, led off...
Mark Reynolds confirmed to reporters in Boston that he'll sit out today's doubleheader after being hit in the head Saturday night. Manager Buck Showalter indicated yesterday that Reynolds could remain on the bench until Tuesday.
Showalter was hoping to start Adam Jones in at least one of the games. It won't be the opener.
For the Orioles:
Matt Angle CF
J.J. Hardy SS,
Nick Markakis RF
Vladimir Guerrero DH
Matt Wieters C
Chris Davis 1B
Robert Andino 2B
Nolan Reimold LF
Josh Bell 3B
Jeremy...
The Orioles are playing two games in Boston today because of the May 17 postponement. At least, I think that's the reason. There have been so many rainouts, I've lost track of the dates.
Boston has lost 11 of its last 14 games, and Tampa Bay has closed to within two games in the wild card race.
Game 1 starter Jeremy Guthrie is 2-8 with a 4.41 ERA in 18 career appearances (16 starts) against the Red Sox.
Jacoby Ellsbury is 14-for-35 (.400) lifetime against Guthrie. David Ortiz is 12-for-35...
Alfredo Simon allowed six runs and eight hits in five innings today, including three home runs that helped the Angels take an 11-2 victory over the Orioles before an announced 27,471 at Camden Yards.
That's a touchdown, two-point conversion and field goal for the Angels.
"I think today was, what, his 14th start?" Showalter said. "We keep looking for guys to step up and put themselves in a position where you feel like you can trust them. Some starts make you feel better about that than...
Alfredo Simon has come back out to start the fifth inning, but he's already allowed two home runs to Erick Aybar and one to Vernon Wells, and the Orioles trail the Angels, 6-1, in a game that's moving slower than the Griswolds after they arrive at Wally World.
Manager Buck Showalter has Brad Bergesen warming in the bullpen again, so Simon is near the end of a very disappointing afternoon. He's surrendered six runs and seven hits, with one walk, four strikeouts, a wild pitch and a hit...
That didn't take long.
Alfredo Simon drilled Angels first baseman Mark Trumbo in the back pocket with a 95 mph fastball in the first inning, and plate umpire Laz Diaz jumped out from behind home plate and issued warnings to both benches.
It's fair to assume that Simon was retaliating after Angels starter Ervin Santana hit Nolan Reimold and Mark Reynolds last night. Reynolds was drilled above the left temple, and he's out of today's lineup.
Simon walked leadoff hitter Erick Aybar on four...
Mark Reynolds joked with teammates this morning that they need to go easy on him because he's "concussed."
At least he's able to laugh about it.
Reynolds says he's fine and thought he might be in the lineup today, but a reporter broke the news that he's on the bench. "Oh, there's a lineup up? Then I'm probably not playing," he said.
"I was going to go beg Buck (Showalter)."
Reynolds was hit above the left temple by an Ervin Santana pitch in the third inning last night and left...
Mark Reynolds will spend today's game on the bench after being hit in the head last night by an Ervin Santana pitch.
Reynolds says he's fine and could play, but manager Buck Showalter is starting Chris Davis at first base and Josh Bell at third. Reynolds expects to be in the lineup for tomorrow's doubleheader in Boston.
Reynolds said he believes that Santana hit him on purpose, but he doesn't think the right-hander was aiming for his head.
For the Orioles:
Matt Angle CF
J.J. Hardy...