Game 65 Recap-
The Boston Red Sox used 3 home runs to produce 8 of their 9 runs, beating the Baltimore Orioles 9-2 Thursday night at Fenway Park. 3b Mike Lowell’s 5th inning grand slam was the key blow, 1b Kevin Youkilis(7th) & RF JD Drew(8th) each hit 2 run shots to aid the cause.
Orioles RH Jeremy Guthrie(3-7.3.71) was solid but made the big mistake to Lowell to dirty up his stat line. Over 4 2/3 innings, he allowed 7 hits and 5 runs with 5 BIG walks and 1 strikeout. Boston is a grind out, ,make you work offense & even without superstar DH David Ortiz in the lineup, they can jack up pitch counts. Guthrie threw 107 pitches and only 59 were strikes.
Boston LH Jon Lester(5-3,3.43) is not just a great human interest story(cancer survivor), he is pitching great. He went 7 innings, allowing 7 hits & 2 runs with 1 walk & 3 Ks. By comparison to Guthrie, he threw 69 strikes on 100 pitches. The Os got their runs in the 6th on 3 doubles in a row by 2b Brian Roberts, 1b Oscar Salazar & DH Aubrey Huff. Outside of this outburst, the Baltimore bats did not mount much offense.
Star of the Game-
Lowell- Grand slam was the big blow of the game and he was pitched to after Baltimore Manager Dave Trembley made the correct strategic play of walking future hall of famer Manny Ramirez to load the bases
Orioles Notes-
Team has gone 20 straight games with a double …1b Kevin Millar fouled a ball off of his left knee in the 2nd and was removed. The knee is bruised and will be day to day, the popular Millar said he will not on the DL. Post game X rays came back negative.. C Ramon Hernandez & DH Aubrey Huff led Baltimore with 2 hits
Next Game-
Friday,7:05 PM- Opener of 3 Game interleague series with the Pittsburgh Pirates
at Camden Yards, Maryland
Pirates LH Phil Dumatrait(3-3,3.44) vs LH Brian Burres(4-5,4.96)
