FINAL: Orioles 5, Red Sox 1 - Boston's Offense is a No Show in Loss

The Red Sox fell to the Baltimore Orioles 5-1 at Camden Yards on Thursday night. The biggest story tonight was that the Boston offense was nowhere to be found outside of a solo home run from Wilyer Abreu that gave the Red Sox a 1-0 lead.

 The Red Sox had multiple chances with runners on base. The Red Sox left six guys on base for the game. Give credit to Zach Eflin though who went 6 innings, 5 hits, 1 earned run, 8 K and no walks. 

Nick Pivetta went 5 innings, 3 hits, 3 earned runs 6 K and 1 BB. Pivetta held his own and gave Boston a chance to win tonight but the offense did not show up and the bullpen continued to struggle. I know people will be disappointed with the home runs he gave up, but I thought his velocity was better after 10 days of rest and still gave the offense a chance. 

Chase Shugart made his MLB debut as he went 2.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, and 2 K. It was a nice spot for Shugart to enter the game as his first MLB strikeout was versus Jackson Holliday. He got up to 96 and 98 MPH tonight on the mound. 

Gunner Henderson hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning which gave Baltimore a 2-1 lead. 

Cedric Mullins added a run with a solo shot in the 5th inning making it 3-1 Orioles.

 Ryan Mountcastle added another run with an RBI single in the sixth inning and Colton Cowser hit an RBI Double which extended it to 5-1 Baltimore. 

The Red Sox are now 1-6 versus the Orioles this season and will continue their four-game series tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. 

____________________________________

WHO: Red Sox (63-56) vs. Baltimore Orioles (71-50)
WHEN: 6:35 p.m.
WHERE: Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore. 
SERIES TO DATE: 1-5 (0-3/1-2)
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Nick Pivetta (5-7, 4.44) vs. RHP Zach Eflin (8-7, 3.83) 
TV/RADIO: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7
LIVE BOX
LINEUPS
RED SOX
Duran CF
Abreu RF
Refsnyder LF
Devers 3B
Wong C
Yoshida DH
Smith 1B
Rafaela SS
Hamilton 2B

SP Nick Pivetta 

ORIOLES
Cowser LF
Santander RF
Henderson SS
O'Hearn 1B
Rutschman DH
Holliday 2B
Mullins CF
Urias 3B
McCann C

SP Zach Eflin 

WHAT'S UP

•  The Red Sox have lost 5 of their last 7 games after winning 6 of their previous 8, from 7/29-8/6.
•  They're 8-7 in their last 15 games and 10-14 in 24 games following the All-Star break.
•  Boston is 34-24 (.586) on the road, the AL's 3rd-best record behind NYY (40-23) and BAL (36-24).
• The Sox are 5-3 in their last 8 road games after losing each of their previous 4...They're 15-9 in their last 23 road games, since 6/17.
• They're 22-13 (.629) in their last 35 road games, dating back to 5/19 at STL, MLB's best record in that span.
• The Red Sox won their last series vs. TEX, improving to 20-14-5 in series play and 10-7-3 at home...They're 4-4-0 in 8 series since the All-Star break.
• The Sox have won or tied 16 of their last 21 series, beginning 5/30 (12-5-4).
• Boston is 4-10 in its last 14 games vs. Baltimore, beginning 4/26/23.                    
• Since the start of 2021, the Sox are 3-4-2 in series at Camden Yards (14-14 overall in games during that span). 
• The Red Sox were swept by the Orioles in a 3-game series at Fenway Park from 4/9-11...They lost a 3-game series (1-2) in Baltimore from 5/27-29.    
• Red Sox starting pitchers have allowed 3 ER or fewer in 12 of their last 16 games, beginning 7/28.                  
• In innings 1-4 during their last 6 games, Sox pitchers have posted a 1.50 ERA (4 ER/24.0 IP).                                        
• Triston Casas has played in 10 rehab games with Triple-A Worcester, making 7 starts at 1st base and 3 as the DH while batting .270 with a .900 OPS, 5 runs scored, and 6 RBI (10-for-37, 6 2B, HR, 6 BB, HBP).                                        
• Nick Pivetta is pitching on 10 days of rest...Last started 8/4 at TEX (4.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, BB, 5 SO).                                        
• Here are Pivetta's numbers versus Baltimore in his career: 12 GS, 8-2, 3.18 ERA (24 ER/68.0 IP), 54 H, 10 BB, 83 SO 
• Jamie Westbrook has cleared waivers and has been sent to AAA.