Recap: Boston vs. Baltimore
Sports Network | September 01, 2008
Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Paul Byrd tossed seven solid innings, and Dustin Pedroia finished 2-for-4 with two runs batted in, as Boston topped Baltimore, 7-4, in the first of three games with the Orioles. Byrd (10-11) picked up his third consecutive win after allowing four runs on seven hits and a walk, with four strikeouts. Three of the four runs he allowed came by three solo home runs. Jason Varitek and Jeff Bailey added solo shots for Boston, while Jed Lowrie finished with a double, two RBI and three walks. Pedroia's two hits gave him 185 this season, which set a new Red Sox franchise record for hits in a season among second basemen. Boston has won three of four overall, and moved within five games of idle, first-place Tampa Bay in the AL East. Baltimore starter Garrett Olson (8-7) was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk in time for Monday's game, and he took the loss after being touched for six runs on six hits and five walks in 5 2/3 frames. Adam Jones was activated from the 15-day disabled list on Monday, and he had one of the Orioles' three solo homers. Juan Castro and Kevin Millar had the others for Baltimore, which has lost four in a row and nine of 10. The Orioles had taken a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth, but the Red Sox surged ahead in the bottom half. Jason Bay smoked a one-out double to right field that bounced over the wall and into the stands. Lowrie followed by smacking a double off the wall in left to plate the tying run. After a Varitek groundout, Bailey walked to put runners on the corners, and Coco Crisp singled to center to bring home Lowrie. Jacoby Ellsbury beat out an infield single to load the bases, which ended Olson's day. Dennis Sarfate came on, but Pedroia managed to reach out to a fastball several inches off the plate and deposit it into right field. The hit brought home two more runs to give Boston a 6-3 edge. Millar led off the seventh with his 20th homer of the season to bring the Orioles within two, but Boston got the run back in the eighth. Against Jim Miller, who had his contract purchased from Norfolk on Monday, Pedroia singled with one out and stole second. A walk to David Ortiz and error on Kevin Youkilis' batted ball loaded the bases for Bay, who struck out. However, Lowrie worked a walk to force in another run. Jonathan Papelbon allowed two singles with two outs in the ninth, but managed to keep the Orioles off the scoreboard and nail down his 35th save of the season. Jones gave Baltimore a one-run lead in the first with his eighth homer of the season, but back-to-back shots from Varitek and Bailey in the second put Boston in front. Castro's one-out homer tied the game in the third, and in the sixth, Nick Markakis singled with a runner on second and two outs to give the Orioles a 3-2 edge. Game Notes Pedroia broke the previous record of 183 hits, set by Del Pratt in 1922...The Red Sox left 12 runners on base, while the Orioles stranded five...Boston still leads the AL Wild Card standings, by three games over Minnesota and the White Sox. Game Notes Pedroia broke the previous record of 183 hits, set by Del Pratt in 1922...The Red Sox left 12 runners on base, while the Orioles stranded five...Boston still leads the AL Wild Card standings, by three games over Minnesota and the White Sox.
