Orioles at Red Sox
THE STORY: The desperate Boston Red Sox salvaged the second game of a
day-night doubleheader Monday to remain two games ahead of the
hard-charging Tampa Bay Rays in the American League wild card race.
After dropping the first game 6-5, Boston hammered out 20 hits on the
way to a much-needed 18-9 victory. The Red Sox host the Orioles on
Tuesday having lost 12 of their last 16 games, and start the oft-injured
Erik Bedard against Rick VandenHurk.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Rick VandenHurk (0-0, 6.00 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Erik Bedard (5-9, 3.50).
VandenHurk
was pulled from his last start against the Blue Jays after surrendering
two home runs in 2 1/3 innings. The 26-year-old righthander had a 5.79
ERA in 44 major league appearances (33 starts) on the season. He has
allowed three homers in his six innings with the Orioles this season.
The lanky righthander has faced Boston twice in his career allowing a
run in two innings in a stint with the Marlins. Bedard will make his
first start in 17 days after experiencing a couple injuries. The Red Sox
will not let him go above 100 pitches in the game which has been his
norm for the bulk of the season. After losing five straight decisions,
the veteran finally got a win when he bested Texas 12-7, allowing three
runs on six hits. Bedard is 1-0 against his former teammates in his
career with a 2.70 ERA.
ABOUT THE ORIOLES (63-90):
Baltimore had lost five straight at Boston this season before winning
Monday’s opener. Overall, the Orioles have lost 42 of their last 54
games at Boston but enter Tuesday’s game winners of five of their last
eight games overall with all coming against wild card playoff
contenders. Adam Jones is nursing a thumb injury and Mark Reynolds has
not played since getting hit in the head with a pitch on Saturday. Nick
Markakis is also in a big slump but had two hits and two RBIs in
Monday’s nightcap. Baltimore had 21 hits in the two games Monday and
shortstop J.J. Hardy belted his career-best 28th homer.
ABOUT THE RED SOX (88-66): Even in Monday's victory, Boston looked
dreadful at times. John Lackey couldn’t make it out of the fifth inning
and the Red Sox made three errors. Carl Crawford was scratched from
Monday’s twinbill because of a stiff neck. Crawford, who wrote an
apology to the Boston fans for how awful he has played this season, was
missed badly in the doubleheader as his replacement, Darnell McDonald
dropped two straight flyballs in the opener. McDonald had another
adventurous game in the nightcap playing right field and running the
bases. The Red Sox certainly aren’t sporting a playoff-worthy lineup
with Conor Jackson and McDonald in the fray. Jackson was 1 for his last
34 before hitting a grand slam in the second game. Kevin Youkilis may be
finished for the year with a sports hernia.
FINAL PITCH: Boston has fallen behind in seven straight games - they
have allowed 13 first-inning runs in the last 10 games. David Ortiz
told reporters after Monday’s first game that Alfredo Aceves should be
allowed to start. He pitched three scoreless innings Monday.