masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgNot only did Chris Davis end his hitless streak yesterday, but his hits were big ones as the Orioles beat Boston 9-5 to even the four-game series at a win each. Davis went 3-for-5 with four RBIs, producing three hits for the first time since Aug. 28 and four RBIs for the first time since July 29.
Davis ended his 0-for-54 run with a two-run single in the top of the first to start his big day. The Orioles have now outscored opponents 15-5 in the first inning, making it their best inning of the…

Not only did Chris Davis end his hitless streak yesterday, but his hits were big ones as the Orioles beat Boston 9-5 to even the four-game series at a win each. Davis went 3-for-5 with four RBIs, producing three hits for the first time since Aug. 28 and four RBIs for the first time since July 29.

Davis ended his 0-for-54 run with a two-run single in the top of the first to start his big day. The Orioles have now outscored opponents 15-5 in the first inning, making it their best inning of the season. The only other inning they have outscored opponents is the seventh by 17-14.

With Saturday’s win, the Orioles are 6-9 overall and ended a four-game losing streak. They are 1-1 on a seven-game road trip and 5-3 on the road. Last season the Orioles didn’t win their fifth road game until May 19 in road game No. 24.

If the Orioles win the last two games of this series, they would have three road series wins already. They had three all of last year when they went 3-21-2 in 26 road series. The 2018 Orioles began last season going 3-17 in their first 20 games away from Baltimore.

Means-Throws-Gray-Sidebar.jpgOn the mound this afternoon, lefty John Means (1-1, 2.08 ERA) gets his second start. For the season, he has allowed nine hits and six runs (two earned) over 8 2/3 innings with three walks and 10 strikeouts.

An 11th-round pick from West Virginia University by the Orioles in 2014, Means has allowed lefty batters to go 1-for-7 (.143) thus far against him. Right-handed batters are 8-for-28 (.286) off Means.

Lefty David Price (0-1, 6.00 ERA) will make his third start for Boston. In 12 innings, he has yielded 12 hits and eight runs with three walks and 13 strikeouts. In 30 games last year, he went 16-7 with a 3.58 ERA and 1.142 WHIP for Boston.

Price has thrown his four-seam fastball 22.7 percent of the time this season, averaging 93.5 mph. He throws his changeup 26.4 percent, a sinker 28.4 percent and his cutter 17 percent.

In 2018, Price made three starts against Baltimore and went 3-0 with an ERA of 2.25. In 20 innings, he walked three and fanned 24. In 28 career starts against the Orioles, Price is 15-5 with a 2.75 ERA and 1.075 WHIP.

The Orioles had produced four hits each in their three previous games before Saturday. But they broke out with 13 hits and their nine runs were their second-most of the year.

O’s pitchers allowed six hits Saturday, ending a run of nine straight games allowing 10 hits or more. In their eight road games, the O’s pitchers have allowed 11 homers, while they have given up 28 in seven home games.