masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgBOSTON – The First-Year Player Draft continues today, and the Orioles selected University of Virginia pitcher Branden Kline with the 65th overall pick.

Kline, a graduate of Thomas Johnson High School in Frederick, was 7-3 with a 3.56 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 93 2/3 innings, and was named second-team All-ACC for the Cavaliers. He served as their closer last year before moving into the rotation as a junior.

We’ll find out later whether the Orioles project him as a starter or reliever.

The Red…BOSTON – The First-Year Player Draft continues today, and the Orioles selected University of Virginia pitcher Branden Kline with the 65th overall pick.

Kline, a graduate of Thomas Johnson High School in Frederick, was 7-3 with a 3.56 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 93 2/3 innings, and was named second-team All-ACC for the Cavaliers. He served as their closer last year before moving into the rotation as a junior.

We’ll find out later whether the Orioles project him as a starter or reliever.

The Red Sox drafted Kline, who’s listed at 6-foot-3 and 195 lbs., in the sixth round in 2009.

Baseball America ranked Kline as the 40th-best right-handed pitcher in the draft.

As for tonight’s game at Fenway Park, Jason Hammel will try to rebound from his last outing in Toronto, when he served up four solo home runs. Hammel had allowed three homers all season before the Blue Jays teed off on him.

Hammel is 1-2 with a 5.34 ERA in 10 career games (four starts) against the Red Sox, with 17 runs, 13 walks and 26 strikeouts in 28 2/3 innings. David Ortiz is 6-for-12 with a home run. Dustin Pedroia is 4-for-7 with a double and homer.

The Orioles will once again attempt to take down Jon Lester, who’s 14-0 with a 2.47 ERA in 19 career starts against them. Lester didn’t get a decision in his only start against them this year after allowing three runs and five hits in six innings.

Lester is struggling of late, permitting 15 runs and 24 hits, including four home runs, in his last three starts covering 16 2/3 innings. He’s 3-4 with a 4.79 ERA this season.

Adam Jones should be back in the lineup tonight, but he’s a career .216 hitter in 37 at-bats against Lester.

Robert Andino is 5-for-13 with a double. J.J. Hardy is 4-for-8. Ronny Paulino is 2-for-4 with a homer. Matt Wieters is 9-for-28 (.321) with a double, triple and three RBIs. Mark Reynolds is 2-for-8 with a double and homer.

Chris Davis is 0-for-13.

Jones currently ranks fifth among American League outfielders in All-Star balloting with 857,543 votes. Matt Wieters (713,469) trails only Mike Napoli (1,224,565) among AL catchers.

Hardy ranks third among shortstops, Andino is fourth among second basemen and Nick Markakis is 12th among outfielders.