masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgIt was not the O’s debut Ubaldo Jimenez wanted. He had, at times, some swing and miss stuff, but also threw a couple of pitches he might like to have back.

David Ortiz and Mike Napoli got to Jimenez as each hit a two-run homer as Boston beat the Orioles 6-2 tonight. Napoli later added a two-run single as Boston evened the series at a win each in front of 25,708 at Camden Yards.

Jimenez did a great job late last year keeping the ball in the ballpark. In his last 12 starts of the 2013 season…It was not the O’s debut Ubaldo Jimenez wanted. He had, at times, some swing and miss stuff, but also threw a couple of pitches he might like to have back.

David Ortiz and Mike Napoli got to Jimenez as each hit a two-run homer as Boston beat the Orioles 6-2 tonight. Napoli later added a two-run single as Boston evened the series at a win each in front of 25,708 at Camden Yards.

Jimenez did a great job late last year keeping the ball in the ballpark. In his last 12 starts of the 2013 season for Cleveland he gave up just one homer. After the All-Star break he allowed just three in a total of 84 innings.

But with one out in the top of the third, Ortiz hit a two-run shot onto the flag court in right field for a 2-0 lead. Two innings later, Napoli hit a long two-run shot to center on an 0-2 pitch to break a 2-2 tie as Boston went ahead 4-2. At that point Napoli was 4-for-7 in his career with two homers off Jimenez.

Jimenez went six innings allowing five hits and four runs with three walks, he hit one batter and struck out six. He threw 96 pitches.

Tonight’s game ended Jimenez’s streak of 13 straight starts in which he allowed three earned runs or fewer. His ERA is now 10.27 in five career starts vs. Boston and is 5.87 in 18 career starts against AL East opponents.

Winning pitcher John Lackey gave up just three hits and two runs over six innings. He improves to 14-5 with an ERA of 3.33 in 24 career starts against Baltimore.

Nelson Cruz hit his second homer in two games, a two-run shot to right on an 0-2 pitch in the fourth to briefly tie this game at 2-2. But the O’s have scored just four runs combined in the season’s first two games.

In the game to decide the series here Thursday night, Wei-Yin Chen starts for the Orioles against Boston lefty Felix Doubront.