Newly acquired Victor Martinez had 5 hits and 4 RBIs as the Boston Red Sox pounded out 23 hits in an 18-10 win over the Baltimore Orioles in front of 43,115 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
The Red Sox improve to 20-games above .500 at 62-42 but stay a 1/2 game behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East as they won on Sunday as well. The Orioles drop to 44-60.
Apparently Clay Buchholz didn’t want to get a win on Sunday afternoon as he was spotted a seven run lead. He left the game with a 14-7 lead after 4+ innings and wasn’t involved in the decision. He allowed the 7 runs on 9 hits and 4 wa;ls while striking out 3.
Manny Delcarmen was awarded he win as he went 1 2/3 innings, allowing 2 runs on a hit and 2 walks with a strikeout. Ramon Ramirez gave up a run on 4 hits with a strikeout in 1 1/3 innings. Takashi Saito was the only pitcher in the game not to give up a run as he allowed just a hit in the final 2 innings.
Jason Berken would probably just forget his start as would I’m sure the other five Orioles who pitched in the game. Berken allowed 6 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks in 1 1/3 innings.
Brian Bass allowed 4 runs in 2 innings and Matt Albers 4 runs in 1/3 of an inning. Mark Hendrickson gave up 2 runs in 2 1/3 innings, Cla Meredith one run in two innings and Jim Johnson gave up a run in an inning.
Given the fact the Red Sox had 23 hits on the afternoon, you would think that every member of the starting nine would have haat least one hit. That’s not the case as David Ortiz went 0-for-5 but had an RBI on a bases loaded walk.
Kevin Youkilis went 3-for-4 with 2 walks and 2 RBIs and finished the series 10-for-12. Mike Lowell extended his hitting streak to 11-games and finished with 3 hits and 3 RBIs. Dustin Pedroia also had 3 hits while Jacoby Ellsbury, Rocco Baldelli (home run) and Jed Lowrie all had 2 hits on the afternoon.
Josh Reddick also had two hits for the Red Sox and hit his first MLB home run. J.D. Drew had a double and 3 RBIs before leaving the game after tweaking his groin again.
Ugly start for Buchholz this afternoon and he’ll need to turn it around. It’s not good when you’re spotted such a big lead and you don’t get a decision.
The Red Sox will be off on Monday and they’ll enjoy that off day in Tampa. Jon Lester will start for the Red Sox while Sox-killer Matt Garza starts for Joe Maddon and the Rays.
