O's now face tough ten-game road trip

Despite last night's dismal O's performance and blowout loss, the club has won five of its last seven games. But that was against the Marlins, Nats and A's. Tonight they begin a ten-game road trip vs. Boston (47-32), Detroit (41-36) and Texas (47-31). Let's see how the O's fare vs. these winning teams. Play anything like they did last night and they will get smoked on this trip. The Orioles are 8-25 vs. the AL East this year. That includes a 5-4 record vs. tonight's opponent, the Red Sox and a 3-21 mark vs. the Yankees, Rays and Jays. Yes, that is strange. But, it is also a huge improvement vs. Boston over last year, when the O's went 2-16 vs. the Sox and were swept in four of the six series. In the nine games vs. Boston on the season, the O's have scored 42 runs with a team batting average of .283 and ERA of 5.46. Boston has scored 54 runs and hit 18 homers in those nine games vs. the Orioles. The O's are 4-0 in extra-innings games vs. Boston. Current O's hitters vs. Boston this year: Bell: 0-0 Izturis: 4-25/0/1 Jones: 13-40/2/4 Lugo: 2-12/0/1 Markakis: 13-37/1/7 Moore: 4-9/0/3 Patterson: 1-8/0/0 Tatum: 2-9/0/1 Tejada: 15-39/2/5 Wieters: 9-28/1/7 Wigginton: 10-29/3/4 Wieters went 20 for 44 vs. Boston last year, making him a career .403 hitter in 21 games vs. the Sox. Boston just completed an 18-9 June and is 47-32 on the year. That is the third best record in the Majors, but second best in the division and they are 1.5 games behind New York. Boston is 28-12 since May 18 and leads the Majors in runs, doubles, extra-base hits, RBI, slugging and OPS. The Sox are 15-2 in their last 17 Fenway games vs. the O's. Hope Bergy finds that arm slot tonight as he challenges a hot team and one that is a hot-hitting club right now.