BALTIMORE - Hits? Who needs 'em? Not when you have the ultimate offensive weapon: the sacrifice fly!
The Red Sox managed just four hits through the first 11 innings, and finally broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the 12th with consecutive sacrifice flies -- one from Brock Holt and the other from Jackie Bradley Jr., giving them a 2-0 win over the Baltimore Orioles.
In the 12th, a leadoff single by Xander Bogaerts, a double by Rafael Devers and a hit-by-pitch to Eduardo Nunez filled the bases with no outs. Holt hit a ball to medium center, scoring Bogaerts, with the two runners advancing 90 feet. Bradley followed with another sac fly to left, delivering Devers.
Steven Wright held the Orioles scoreless through his 6.2 innings before Joe Kelly came in to bail him out of a bases-loaded jam. Brian Johnson, Brandon Workman, Heath Hembree and, finally, Craig Kimbrel held the O's at bay.
WHO: Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles
WHEN: 7:05 p.m.
WHERE: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
WHAT'S UP: This marks the first of three visits to Baltimore this season for the Red Sox. Until today, this is the one American League outpost the Red Sox had yet to visit, having already played two series in both Toronto and Tampa Bay and another in New York. The Red Sox find themselves in an offensive funk , having scored just eight runs in the last four games at home while losing three of four. The Sox have cleaned up with O's in two series at Fenway, having won six of seven. The Orioles are in last place in the East with the worst record in the American League at 19-45. They're returning from a six-game road trip which began well in New York with two wins over the Mets and was followed by four losses in Toronto.
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Steven Wright (2-0, 1.57) vs. RHP Dylan Bundy (4-7, 4.04).
TV/RADIO: NESN; WEEI 93.7 FM
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
10:15 The offensive futility continues. The Red Sox load the bases with two outs and Mychal Givens runs the count to 3-and-0 on Mitch Moreland. But then Moreland takes two strikes, then swings at a nasty 96 mph fastball down-and-in, leaving the bases loaded.
9:58 Brandon Workman rejoined the Red Sox a week ago, but has already earned Alex Cora's trust. Workman was brought in with the potential winning run in scoring position in the ninth and fanned pinch-hitter Pedro Alvarez. He then contributed a scoreless 10th inning, too.
9:00 One of the benefits of having someone like Kelly relieve someone like Wright is the enormous contrast - hitters go from seeing a floating knuckler at 75 mph to high octane gas up in the zone at 98 mph. Just ask Adam Jones, who couldn't catch up to Kelly's fastball and left the bases loaded by swinging through a high heater.
8:54 Wright gets into a jam in the seventh - with two out, a hit batsman, a bunt single and a walk load the bases -- and is lifted. He was, again, brilliant. Joe Kelly on.
8:33 Jackie Bradley Jr. rarely -- as in almost never -- gets fooled or takes the wrong route to a ball. But on the few occasions he does -- as just happened on a flyball to center by Jonathan Schoop -- Bradley has the athleticism to make the play anyway. After initially getting tangled up and turning the wrong way as he backpedaled, Bradley righted himself, shifted his body and made the catch.
8:26 While Andrew Benintendi has been rightly criticized at times for his baserunning, his base-stealing has been something else altogether. Benintendi just swiped second in the top of the sixth, giving him 11 steals in 12 attempts this season -- a great percentage for anyone.
7:58 Early signs show that Steven Wright has his "A'' knuckler working tonight. He's gotten a lot of awkward swings and misses already (three strikeouts) and, like his last start against Detroit, seems to be generating a lot of downward movement with the pitch, resulting in a ton of groundouts (five through four innings)
7:45 Alex Cora has frequently spoken about how impressed he's been with the defensive play of Rafael Devers -- despite the high error (12) total -- even as he battles a slump at the plate. That was a good example, as Devers ranged to his left, grabbed a ball that was heading for the hole, spun and made a strong throw to first to get Danny Valencia at first.
LINEUPS
RED SOX
Betts RF
Benintendi LF
Martinez DH
Moreland 1B
Bogaerts SS
Devers 3B
Nunez 2B
Vazquez C
Bradley CF
ORIOLES
Rickard RF
Jones CF
Schoop 2B
Valencia 3B
Trumbo DH
Mancini LF
Davis 1B
Sisco C94.
Peterson SS
NEWS AND NOTES:
- In a bit of a surprise, the Red Sox activated Mookie Betts from the DL and inserted him into the lineup, back to his customary spot in the lineup. Previously, Betts had indicated that he would prefer a rehab game to get his timing back before returning to the Sox, but after an intense routine Sunday and additional swings Monday, it was determined he was ready to return. Betts has always hit well at Camden Yards (career: .301/.394/.610). To make room for Betts, Sam Travis was optioned back to Triple A Pawtucket,
- Tyler Thornburg is with the Red Sox here and will stay with them for the next few days, with some side work. Then, he'll rejoin Pawtucket in Lehigh Valley and pitch Thursday and also either Saturday or Sunday.
- LHP Drew Pomeranz (biceps tendonitis) played catch Sunday, but was slowed Monday by a stiff neck.
- 2B Dustin Pedroia is with the team and continues to receive treatment but isn't ready to begin baseball activities as he deals with inflammation of left knee.