Boston @ Baltimore preview
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Last Meeting ( Jul 18, 2011 ) Boston 15, Baltimore 10
THE STORY: There were no incidents between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night. There wasn’t any pitching either. Boston, playing without designated hitter David Ortiz, who was suspended for three games for his part in a bench-clearing brawl between the two teams at Fenway Park, pounded out 16 hits and 15 runs on the way to a 15-10 victory. The Red Sox start rookie Kyle Weiland on Tuesday at Camden Yards in the second game of a three-game series opposite Baltimore’s Jeremy Guthrie. Boston has won seven straight in the series.
TV: 7:05 p.m. NESN (Boston), MASN (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Kyle Weiland (0-1, 13.50 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Jeremy Guthrie (3-13, 4.45 ERA).
It was far from a fairy-tale major league debut for Weiland when he faced Baltimore. Not only did the rookie allow six runs on eight hits in four innings, but he was ejected after hitting Vlad Guerrero with a pitch. While it did not seem intentional, Weiland was about to get pulled anyway for his sloppy performance, but Boston went on to post an 8-6 win. Weiland gave up all six runs in the second inning, including a Derrek Lee homer. Even when Guthrie was decent in his career he struggled against Boston, posting a 1-8 mark with a 4.55 ERA. Earlier in the season he blanked Boston on seven hits over six innings but wasn’t involved in the decision. Things have gone South since then as Guthrie has recorded just two quality starts in his last 10.
ABOUT THE ORIOLES (38-55): While the talk has centered around Ortiz, the Orioles are without Kevin Gregg, a valuable member of their bullpen, for the entire series. Both players had their suspensions reduced to three games. Baltimore signed shortstop J.J. Hardy to a contract extension before Monday’s game. Hardy has played well, hitting .278, and he homered Monday. He leads the majors in fielding percentage among shortstops. The Orioles placed pitcher Alfredo Simon on the restricted list. He is a figure in a case in the Dominican Republic involving a fatal shooting. They recalled infielder Josh Bell and reliever Mark Worrell.
ABOUT THE RED SOX (58-36): Carl Crawford returned to the lineup Monday and went 2-for-5 with an RBI. Boston demoted Drew Sutton to make room for Crawford. The Sox have won nine of their last 10 and 13 of 15. The Red Sox are 7-2 against Baltimore this season, outscoring them by 27 runs. Dustin Pedroia has hit safely in 16 straight and reached base safely in 28 straight. Boston is 27-11 against the AL East.
FINAL PITCH: Call it the Home Run Derby jinx, but since the All-Star Game Adrian Gonzalez is mired in a slump. He went 1-for-15 in the three-game weekend series against the Rays and was 1 for his last 18 before singling in the third inning Monday.