masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgMatt Albers has retired all four batters he’s faced today since replacing starter Andrew Miller in the sixth inning. He’s gotten two ground balls and struck out two.

Albers has allowed no runs or hits, walked one and struck out seven in 4 1/3 innings against the Orioles this season. His ERA this summer is down to 2.29, and I doubt that many Red Sox fans are concerned whether his weight is up.

The Orioles non-tendered Albers in December, and the Red Sox signed him 14 days after he was granted free agency.

He’s always had good stuff, but he couldn’t display it with any consistency with the Orioles. And each bad outing would raise more concerns about his conditioning and the tear in his right shoulder.

Meanwhile, Jake Arrieta became the second consecutive Orioles starter to go seven innings, but he stands to be the loser today after allowing three runs and nine hits. He didn’t issue a walk for the first time this season, and only the second time in his career.

Mark Hendrickson loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth and walked Carl Crawford to force in a run. And here comes Mark Worrell, again brought into a game with the sacks full and no outs.

Update: The results couldn’t have been more different. Worrell got two strikeouts and a fly ball to escape the jam. Very impressive. He also circled the mound so many times, he might have killed the grass.