Orioles at Red Sox
The host Boston Red Sox will try to extend their winning streak against the Baltimore Orioles to eight games when the American League East rivals continue a four-game series at Fenway Park on Friday. Home runs by J.D. Martinez and Xander Bogaerts backed David Price's first complete game since 2016 in a 6-2 win in the series opener as the Red Sox took their seventh straight over the Orioles dating to 2017.
Mookie Betts added three hits to boost his AL-leading average to .364 and Martinez went deep for the eighth time in his last 15 games before leaving early due to a stomach ailment. The Orioles won five of six while scoring at least five runs in each victory before being held to a total of three runs and nine hits in back-to-back losses. Manny Machado broke up Price's shutout bid with a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth for his fifth home run in a seven-game span. He and his teammates will take aim at Boston southpaw Drew Pomeranz, who opposes Alex Cobb for Baltimore in Friday's tilt.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Baltimore), NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Alex Cobb (0-5, 7.06 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Drew Pomeranz (1-1, 5.47)
Cobb remains in search of his first win of 2018, although he has recovered from a dismal April to produce a 3.06 ERA in three May starts. The Boston native allowed three earned runs over 5 2/3 innings in a loss to Tampa Bay on Saturday while getting through a start without issuing a walk for the first time this year. The 30-year-old was pounded for eight runs (seven earned) in 3 2/3 innings at Fenway Park in his season debut but is 5-2 in eight career starts at Boston.
Pomeranz produced a pair of quality starts to begin the month before lasting just four innings while giving up three runs on five hits and five walks at Toronto on Sunday. The big lefty has allowed 28 hits and 13 walks in 24 2/3 innings overall to register an early WHIP of 1.66, which would be his highest mark since 2013. Pomeranz owns a 3.34 ERA in eight career matchups (five starts) against the Orioles and Baltimore's 2-6 hitters in Thursday's contest - Adam Jones, Machado, Jonathan Schoop, Chris Davis and Mark Trumbo - are a combined 14-for-68 with just one home run and 20 strikeouts versus the 29-year-old.
WALK-OFFS
1. Davis was hitless in three at-bats Thursday and is 1-for-15 with six strikeouts over a four-game span.
2. Bogaerts has a three-run homer in each of his last two games.
3. The Red Sox are hitting .331 in four meetings with the Orioles this year.