Game 125 Recap-
The Boston Red Sox used home runs from C Jason Varitek and 3b Kevin Youkilis to support a wild but effective RH Daisuke Matsuzaka(15-2,2.77) and defeat the Baltimore Orioles 7-2 Tuesday night at Camden Yards in Baltimore. Dice K went 5 innings(105 pitches) with 6 hits and 2 runs with 6 Ks and 5 walks. While he did not have a 1-2-3 inning, he standed 9 runners including 5 in scoring position.”Whether I allow hits or I allow walks, I always think that the important thing is not to allow the runners to score,” Matsuzaka said through an interpreter. “That’s the way I thought last year and it’s still the same this year.”
Orioles RH Daniel Cabrera(8-8,4.98) continued to struggle vs the Boston lineup, over 16 career starts he is 2-11 with a 7.13 era. In 4 1/3 innings plus, he gave up 9 hits and 6 runs with 3 walks and 2 Ks plus the 2 homers. “They’re just a team,” Cabrera said. “I was just trying to go up there and throw strikes. They take a lot of pitches. Maybe that’s why they’re so good.” Varitek(.166 in his last 64 games) showed signs of life with 2 rbi (homer in 2nd, rbi double in 5th) while Youkilis(2 run shot in the 5th & rbi single in 8th) continued his strong season with 3 rbi. Orioles C Ramon Hernandez & LF Luke Scott had rbi hits in the 3rd.
The Os suffered a major loss BEFORE the game when All Star LH Closer George Sherrill was placed on the DL with left shoulder inflamation. The injury does not appear to be serious and might just be from over use, as the lefty has already surpassed his career high in innings pitched. “The MRI news actually was good. The doctor told me that the MRI, side-by-side, looked identical to the one they took in spring training,” club president Andy MacPhail said. “There is a little inflammation, which they injected and prescribed rest. So we don’t have any long-term concerns at the present time. It just looks like something that’s going to be facilitated by rest.”
Star of the Game-
Youkilis- Should garner serious MVP consideration, great defense at 2 positions and hits in 4-5 different spots in the lineup
Orioles Notes-
Sellout crowd of 48,515 put the stadium over 50 million in 17 years, no ball park has reached that number faster…. 2b Brian Roberts had 3 hits….LH Alberto Castillo pitched an inning and a third and lowered his era to 2.55, while RH Randor Bierd(3.37) chipped in a shutout 9th
Next Game-
Wednesday, 7:05
Orioles LH Chris Waters(1-0,4.32) vs Red Sox LH Clay Bucholz(2-8,6.35)
