Final, Orioles 6-2: Tip your cap to Jeremy Guthrie. He of the 3-13 record shut down this potent offense one night after it produced 15 runs.
Guthrie is much better than that record, of course, so it's not a shock. He's a pro, and pitched like one.
Boston loses for just the third time in its last 16 games. Its seven-game winning streak against Baltimore is snapped.
The Orioles (and the Red Sox, for that matter) go for the series win tomorrow afternoon. It will be Andrew Miller against Jake Arrieta in a 12:35 p.m. matchup. Take a long lunch break, call in sick, do what you can to follow the live blog.
End 8th, Orioles 6-2: Figures that the day I choose to talk up Alfredo Aceves a bit, he is on the mound when the Orioles hit back-to-back home runs for the first time all year.
If you've followed this blog for any number of games over the last two years, you are aware of my jinxing powers.
Aceves was one out away from getting out of the inning before issuing a four-pitch walk to Matt Wieters and then watching as Derrek Lee unloaded on an offering for a two-run homer.
Mark Reynolds followed with a solo shot that gave the Orioles plenty of insurance. We think. Will that end up being another jinx?
Jim Johnson remains in the game, but Koji Uehara is ready in the event of any trouble.
Mid 8th, Orioles 3-2: For all you jokers out there who raced to pick up Koji Uehara in your fantasy league in order to pick up a save while Kevin Gregg is out on suspension, you can move to the edge of your seat.
Realistically, Uehara shouldn't be available. That's not me trying to be a fantasy geek, but just a nod to how good he has been. Really one of the few bright spots for Baltimore.
A much better pitcher than Gregg at this point in time.
Uehara figures to get a save opportunity after Jim Johnson gets the top third of the Red Sox lineup in order.
Alfredo Aceves will work his second straight inning for Boston.
End 7th, Orioles 3-2: Alfredo Aceves' scoreless streak is now at 11 1/3 innings, and this is where things get really interesting.
The Red Sox will have the top of the order up against Jim Johnson, the first member out of the beleaguered Baltimore bullpen.
We've seen how this story ends.
Mid 7th, Orioles 3-2: By getting the first two outs in just six pitches, Jeremy Guthrie had to be thinking about getting a chance to start the eighth inning as well.
Then came Marco Scutaro, who went ahead 3-1 before lining a single to center.
That made Guthrie have to work a bit more and prompted Jim Johnson to get up in the bullpen.
Then, with Jacoby Ellsbury at the plate, Scutaro took off on the second pitch but was a dead duck at second.
With the pitch count at 110, it's iffy for Guthrie to continue. The guess is he does not and the Orioles play matchup in the eighth before turning to Koji Uehara in the ninth. We shall see.
Alfredo Aceves is the new Red Sox pitcher. I gave him some mad props earlier today.
End 6th, Orioles 3-2: As it stands, this a quality start for Kyle Weiland, his first as a major leaguer.
That is of course if Weiland is done. Me thinks he will be after finishing the sixth at 100 pitches. No need to push the issue with the youngster.
There was some action in the Red Sox bullpen as Weiland worked around a two-out single in the sixth.
Mid 6th, Orioles 3-2: Amid his 2-for-23 slide since the break, Adrian Gonzalez has struck out seven times, including twice tonight.
He was so good for so long that it's odd to see Gonzalez struggle, and his struggles are plain to see. He's pulling off some balls, swinging at pitches way out of the zone, looking very indecisive at times.
Gonzalez made the first out of the inning. Josh Reddick later singled to improve to 3-for-3, but Carl Crawford popped up the very next pitch to end the inning.
Jeremy Guthrie is at 97 pitches. He'll be given every opportunity to push the limit tonight. The Orioles bullpen stinks to begin with, and it was forced to use several guys last night. Also, no Kevin Gregg, so the pen is down a man anyway.
Guthrie's high pitch count this year is 117.
End 5th, Orioles 3-2: Adam Jones had been 4-for-5 against Kyle Weiland before striking out on a breaking ball low and away to finish the fifth.
The K, Weiland's second, leaves a runner at first and makes him eligible for the W, if his team can rally before he exits.
In other news, Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal has reported that Felix Doubront left his start for Pawtucket with a right hamstring injury. With the Sox scrambling for starters and needing that depth, this doesn't help.
It also won't help Theo Epstein pull off any deals that might've involved Doubront.
Mid 5th, Orioles 3-2: With the way Dustin Pedroia's been hitting, especially in the clutch, and with the way the Red Sox have owned the Orioles, getting Pedroia to end the fifth with the tying run on third is a pretty major development.
Boston got to within a run on a double by Josh Reddick (of course) and a home run by Jarrod Saltalamacchia, his second shot in as many games.
Marco Scutaro later walked and Jacoby Ellsbury singled to put runners at the corners.
Again, this is the kind of situation that Pedroia has owned of late, and the Sox seemingly had Guthrie on the ropes. It almost felt like a tie game before he stepped into the box, but Jeremy Guthrie gets Pedroia to ground to second.
One figures the scoring is not over, but at least the O's can claim a lead for another inning.
End 4th, Orioles 3-0: Kyle Weiland is one out away from recording the longest outing of his career.
Weiland worked around a one-out walk by getting Blake Davis to hit into a double play to finish the fourth.
The righty will face the top of the order for the third time in the fifth.
Mid 4th, Orioles 3-0: The Adrian Gonzalez slump continues. He falls to 2-for-22 since the break with a strikeout in the fourth.
Terry Francona said many times when Dustin Pedroia was slumping that Pedroia will get as hot as he was cold. That came true. Francona may start using that line when questions come on Gonzalez, and he'll be right again. Too good of a hitter to stay in a rut.
Guthrie just got through the meat of the order in a hurry. He is looking pretty good, increasing his value on the trade market.
End 3rd, Orioles 3-0: Kyle Weiland was this close to his second 1-2-3 inning.
After a four-pitch strikeout of J.J. Hardy that featured some nice off-speed stuff and a freezing fastball on the corner, Weiland hit a little wall.
He first walked Nick Markakis. Then came consecutive hits by Adam Jones and Matt Wieters, the latter driving in Markakis without a throw.
Weiland has given up nine runs on 13 hits in seven innings as a major leaguer, all against the O's. Certainly not fooling them all that much.
Mid 3rd, Orioles 2-0: Baltimore ended the first inning with a 4-6-3 double play. It had a chance to end the second with a 4-6-3 double play. It ended the third with a 4-6-3 double play.
This blog is also brought to you by the letter "W."
Of course, the Sox won't be seeing any Ws tonight if they keep tapping to second with a man on first and less than two outs. This time it was Jacoby Ellsbury who was doubled up.
End 2nd, Orioles 2-0: The second inning is an issue for Kyle Weiland once again, although this time he limits the damage well.
Two singles put runners on the corners with nobody out. One out later, Mark Reynolds lined a double into the left-field corner to plate the game's first run.
An RBI grounder to short by Nolan Reimold gave Baltimore its second run.
Mid 2nd, 0-0: Carl Crawford is slowly getting his "firsts" out of the way.
Crawford beat out the back end of a potential inning-ending double play attempt and promptly stole his first base since June 4.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia then struck out, leaving Crawford at second. Still, it's important to see the Red Sox left fielder (DH tonight) get through each of these acts.
Oh, and Josh Reddick singled in the inning. His average is back up to .355.
End 1st, 0-0: Kyle Weiland had a 1-2-3 first inning when he faced the Orioles his last time out. He has another in his debut in Camden Yards.
We won't mention what happened in the second inning for Weiland nine days ago. OK, we will. He gave up six runs on seven hits and a walk. Granted, a few of the hits were soft, but it was still tough to watch.
But Weiland rebounded OK from that frame and had great perspective on his very strange MLB debut. Kid has the makeup, to be sure.
Mid 1st, 0-0: At this rate, Adrian Gonzalez will soon fall from first place in the race for the top batting average in the AL. He is 2-for-21 since the All-Star break.
However, he has just reclaimed the lead in douple plays grounded into. Gonzalez entered the day tied with Torii Hunter with 20 GIDPs. His 21st comes moments after Dustin Pedroia extended his hitting streak to 17 games with an infield hit.
7:06 p.m.: Jeremy Guthrie has just thrown a ball to Jacoby Ellsbury. The dominance of the Orioles continues.
6:05 p.m.: Sorry for the scarcity of updates. Been working on the Red Sox Mailbag for all y'all, which should be posted soon. Some good stuff in there. Your questions, not my answers, of course.
A few injury notes out of Baltimore. Clay Buchholz continues to make some progress in his return from a back injury.
Buchholz threw from 120 feet yesterday and told reporters today that it was among the best days he has had since going on the DL.The righty is scheduled to do the same again Wednesday and may make a move toward throwing from a mound soon. After that, he said he would likely need two rehab starts before a return to the rotation.
We might be looking at an early-August return for Buchholz.
Jed Lowrie has reportedly taken some cuts off a tee, his first swings since going on the DL.
Also, Bobby Jenks has received a plasma injection to assist in his recovery from a back injury. There is no timetable for his return.
4:38 p.m.: Since Kyle Weiland's one prior major league start was against these Orioles, there is actually some history upon which we can draw come conclusions. But not much. We won't bore you with 1-for-3 notes. We'll just bore you with this lineup:
Matt Angle, LF
J.J. Hardy, SS
Nick Markakis, RF
Adam Jones, CF
Matt Wieters, C
Derrek Lee, 1B
Mark Reynolds, 3B
Nolan Reimold, DH
Blake Davis, 2B
3:06 p.m.: The rotating designated hitter will now give Carl Crawford a rest. Crawford said after last night's game that he figured to have some soreness after his first full game back.
Now, by moving him to David Ortiz's vacated DH spot for a day, he can give those legs a rest while staying in the lineup against a guy he absolutely kills.
Crawford is 15-for-43 (.349) with five doubles against Jeremy Guthrie, who is just 1-8 against Boston.
Here is the lineup against the right-hander, followed by a few more numbers:
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
Josh Reddick, LF
Carl Crawford, DH
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
J.D. Drew, RF
Marco Scutaro, SS
Crawford isn't alone in enjoying these encounters. Ellsbury is a .406 (13-for-32) hitter (where have we heard that number before?) with three doubles and a home run vs. Guthrie. Drew is 9-for-31 (.290) with three doubles, one triple, one home run and six walks.
The lineup as a whole is .320 (74-for-231) against Guthrie.
8 a.m.: Kyle Weiland will make his second major league start when he leads the surging Red Sox into a Tuesday night matchup with the Baltimore Orioles.
Weiland made his debut, also against the Orioles, before the All-Star break at Fenway Park. The right-hander, called up to replace the injured Jon Lester, lasted just four-plus innings before being ejected for hitting Vladimir Guerrero with a pitch after warnings had been issued.
The Red Sox ended up winning that wild game by an 8-6 score, part of a seven-game winning streak against Baltimore. Boston has scored 61 runs in that span, rolling to a 15-10 victory in the series opener Monday.
Jeremy Guthrie gets the nod for the O’s. He came on in relief opposite Weiland at Fenway Park, allowing a run in 3 1/3 innings. Guthrie is 1-8 with a 4.55 ERA in 17 games (15 starts) in his career versus the Red Sox.
First pitch is 7:05 p.m.
