Game 63 Recap
The Baltimore Orioles won a battle of bullpens vs one of the better ones in the game, beating the Boston Red Sox 10-6 in the opener of a 3 game set at Fenway Park in Massachusetts. The only stat you need from this game is this-Red Sox relievers allowed 6 runs(5 earned) in 3 and the Orioles zero over 4. This was big for Baltimore, the World Champions have only lost 2 times in their last 17 home contests.
The game appeared to be set up to be a battle of young stud starters in Baltimore’s RH Daniel Cabrera(5-2,4.35) & Sox RH Josh Beckett(6-4,4.22) but both had average nights. Cabrera pitched 5 innings with 7 hits and 6 runs allowed while walking 4 & striking out 3. Beckett was bit better during his 6 frames, he allowed 8 hits & 4 hits, adding 3 strikeouts with 1 walk.
Baltimore led 4-1 after 2 innings, Boston scored in the 1st on a double play groundout. SS Freddie Bynum doubled home 2 runs in the 2nd and 2b Brian Roberts matched it for the 4 runs. Boston scored 2 runs on ground outs in the 3rd to cut the lead to 4-3. Cabera hit the wall in the 5th and he was touched for homers by two red hot Red Sox. RF JD Drew hit a two run shot and DH Manny Ramirez followed with a solo shot & a 6-4 Boston lead.
Beckett was done after 113 pitches in sweltering 90+ degree temperatures. In the 7th, Sox All Star set up man, Hideki Okajima(1-2,2.89 era) entered the game. This is a good match up for the Baltimore bats, however. The lefty has a 13.50 era vs the Orioles in 5 1/3 innings as opposed to the rest of MLB, he has allowed 1 earned run in 22 2/3 innings with an .40 era!!! DH Aubrey Huff drove in the first 2 runs with a double. 1b Kevin Millar put the Os ahead for good with a sacrifice fly.
The teams evened out and settled down in the 8th, however, Baltimore scored 3 more insurance runs in the 9th off of young Sox RH Craig Hansen(5.09) with C Ramon Hernandez( 2 rbi) & OF Jay Payton getting rbi. Boston went quietly versus Os closer George Sherrill in a rare non-save situation to cap this 10-6 win.
Star of the Game-
The Baltimore bullpen-RH Dennis Sarfate, LH Jaime Walker, RH Chad Bradford, RH Jim Johnson and Sherrill pitched 4 innings, allowing 1 hit with 1 walk and struck out 3.
Orioles Notes-
Team designated veteran RH SP Steve Trachsel for assignment. He was 2-5 with a 8.39 era in 10 games…Club wore black arm bands in memory of sports casting legend Jim McKay, part owner of the team…Huff led the team with 4 hits
Next Game-
Wednesday -7:05 Fenway Park, Boston
Orioles LH Garrett Olson(5-1,3.86) vs Red Sox RH Bartolo Colon(3-1,3.91)
