The one problem with pitchers who throw a sinker is that when the pitch doesn’t sink, it usually ends up being a long night for them and their team. And that’s exactly what happened last night for Aaron Cook and the Boston Red Sox.

Orioles MagicThe Baltimore Orioles continued their magical run as they got six runs in the first inning on their way to a 9-1 win over the visiting team from Boston.

The win for the O’s allowed them to keep pace in the AL East race with the New York Yankees who also won last night. The O’s remain one game behind the Yankees. The O’s are still atop the AL Wild Card standings and are 1/2 game ahead of the Oakland A’s for the top spot.

The only hit the Red Sox managed last night came with the first batter of the game, Scott Podsednik. And it came on a bunt. It also led to their first run of the game as he was able to advance to second on a throwing error. He went to third on a Pedro Ciriaco sacrifice bunt and came in to score on a Dustin Pedroia sac fly.

After that Chris Tillman allowed only two base runners to reach. He walked Daniel Nava in the third inning and Dustin Pedroia in the fourth inning.

To sum up last night, it was just a microcosm of the way the season has gone for the Red Sox.

Last night on Twitter, one thing was evident. While you never want to root against your own team, just about everyone was rooting for the Orioles.

The reason is quite simple.

No one wants to see the Yankees win the AL East. Everyone wants the O’s to win it. You can include me in that group.

How great would it be to see Yankees fans sweating out the rest of the season and their team end up in the one game playoff for the AL Wild Card.

Let’s hope that happens!

We’ll be back later with today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day. So for now, let’s take at look at the overnight links from the media by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

Same old result here for Sox [boston herald]

In need of Tek relief [boston herald]

Blast from the past [boston herald]

Orioles make short work of Cook, 9-1 [csn new england]

Losses bring Sox closer to protected draft pick [csn new england]

Red Sox role reversal; Ellsbury close to return; Cook gets fried [csn new england]

More brushfires for John Farrell [espn boston]

Orioles make short work of Sox [espn boston]

Miguel Tejada to play in Dominican, but will Manny Ramirez? [full count]

Orioles Beat Down Red Sox Via Long Ball on One Year Anniversary of Game 162 Loss [nesn.com]

David Ortiz Hopes Red Sox Follow Model From 2004 World Series-Winning Team [nesn.com]

Red Sox have almost clinched protected first-round draft pick [projo sox blog]

Iglesias to spend winter training, not playing baseball [redsox.com]

Ellsbury sits again, set for Saturday return [redsox.com]

On anniversary of collapse, Sox not seeking revenge [redsox.com]

A year later, Red Sox still at a loss to explain 2011 swoon [alex speier – weei.com]

For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSN New EnglandESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.

And if you must check out the enemy news, be sure to head over to the Baltimore Sun and MASN websites. Also be sure to check out our Bloguin brother the Oriole Post for all of your Orioles needs.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.