Orioles 7, Red Sox 4
BOSTON, July 26 — After routing the Baltimore Orioles 13-2 in the season opener the Boston Red Sox dropped each of the next two games to the Orioles. Boston’s starting pitching was once again their downfall on Sunday afternoon. There’s no getting around the fact that the team lacks talent in the pitching department, but their offensive stars haven’t done them any favors to this point either.
O’s Punish Weber Early
It took the Orioles just four batters to take the lead and they didn’t give it up for the rest of the afternoon. Orioles third baseman Rio Ruiz took Ryan Weber deep in the first inning after a Jose Iglesias single to take an early 2-0 lead. The Orioles gave the Red Sox starter trouble through each of his 3 2/3 innings pitched before getting pulled in the fourth.
Iglesias continued his productive day at the plate — which ended 4-for-5 — in his second at-bat when he doubled and drove in Anthony Santander, who scored from first base following a walk. This extended the lead to 3-1 after Sox catcher Christian Vazquez smashed a ball over the Green Monster one inning prior.
The worst of it hadn’t even arrived yet for Weber. The first two Orioles batters of the fourth inning got aboard by way of a single and a walk before outfielder D.J. Stewart laid down a sac bunt to move both runners into scoring position. Austin Hays followed up with a sacrifice of his own, flying to center field and allowing one run to come across. Santander appeared next and delivered a home run into the Orioles bullpen, giving the Orioles a commanding 6-1 lead by the top of the fourth inning.
Santander’s homer was the end of the line for Weber. He finished up his afternoon after throwing 3 2/3 innings, allowing six hits, six earned runs, three walks, and no strikeouts.
Sox Try to Climb Back
The Red Sox began to scratch their way back into the game but could never completely break through in one inning. Newcomer Kevin Pillar tried to start a rally with a leadoff home run over the Monster in the fifth inning.
An inning later outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. led off with a single and Rafael Devers reached by way of a double two batters later. Xander Bogaerts appeared next and delivered the most crucial hit through just three games of the season. Bogaerts doubled to left field, scoring both Bradley and Devers to close the gap to 6-4.
The Red Sox couldn’t score the rest of the way, and a ninth inning Chris Davis double put the final at 7-4 in favor of the Orioles.
Boston Needs More from Stars
The second biggest issue for the Red Sox to this point outside of their starting pitching has been their lack of production from the marquee players in their lineup. Martinez, Devers, Benintendi, and Bogaerts have combined to hit just 8-for-46 in the early season. Meanwhile, Bradley, Jose Peraza, Pillar, and Vazquez have combined to hit 19-for-39 with a pair of home runs. With how spotty the starting rotation looks like it’s going to be, the Red Sox need to rely even more heavily on their premiere hitters to try and make a run at the 16-team playoff this season.
Boston Welcomes the Mets to Fenway
A four-game series with the New York Mets will open up at Fenway Park on Monday night at 7:30 Eastern. Former St. Louis Cardinals standout Michael Wacha will take the hill opposite left-hander Josh Osich for the Red Sox. The series will shift to New York for the final two games before the Red Sox head to Yankee Stadium on Friday.
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