Final: Orioles 5, Red Sox 3

The Red Sox' bullpen fell apart in the eighth inning, handing a 5-3 decision to the Baltimore Orioles and leaving the Sox 3-3 on their two-city road trip.

Jorge Mateo ripped a bases-clearing double down the left field line off John Schreiber, giving the Orioles a three-run lead. Xander Bogaerts hit a solo homer to lead off the ninth, but it wasn't nearly enough.

Pinch-hitter Franchy Cordero had tied the the game with a solo homer in the top of the eighth, but the lead didn't last long.

WHO: Red Sox ( 60-61) vs. Baltimore Orioles (62-58)
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
WHERE: Muncy Bank Ballpark at Bowman Field, Williamsport, PA.
SERIES TO DATE: 1-1
SEASON SERIES TO DATE: BAL 6-5
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Nick Pivetta (9-9, 4.28) vs. RHP Dean Kremer (5-4, 3.58)
TV/RADIO: ESPN; WEEI-FM 937

LINEUPS

RED SOX

Pham LF
Verdugo RF
Bogaerts SS
Devers 3B
Martinez DH
Arroyo 2B
Hernandez CF
Dalbec 1B
Plawecki  C

ORIOLES

Mullins CF
Rutschman C
Santander DH
Mountcastle 1B
Stowers LF
Urias 3B
Hays RF
Odor 2B
Mateo SS

WHAT'S UP: The Red Sox are 4-2 in their last 6 games and 6-3 in their last 9...They are 12-16 since the All-Star break. The Sox have won each of the last 3 series: 1-0 vs. BAL, 2-1 vs. NYY, and 2-1 at PIT...It is their longest series winning streak since taking 7 straight from 6/3-26. ....35 of the Red Sox’ final 50 games of the season are against AL East opponents (6-3 so far)...They are 2-11-1 in series against AL East teams (14-6-4 vs. all others).. The Red Sox have recorded 33 hits over the first 2 games of the current series vs. BAL...It is their 2nd-most hits in any 2-game span this season (33 H, 5/26-27). The Red Sox have scored 5+ runs in a game 55 times, tied for 2nd most in the AL (NYY-59, TOR-55). The Sox rank among the top 5 in the AL in runs (4th, 545), AVG (3rd, .255), SLG (5th, .406), and OPS (5th, .721)...They lead the majors in doubles (274). ....The Red Sox have committed just 4 errors in their last 20 games (beginning 7/30), fewest in the AL and tied for fewest in MLB over that span (also STL and PHI). The Sox have induced 91 double plays grounded into, tied for 3rd in the AL (KC-95, BAL-94, DET-91). Red Sox 2nd basemen rank T-1st in the AL and T-2nd in the majors with 11 defensive runs saved. PITCHING IN: Red Sox pitchers allowed 3 runs (2 earned) last night, after allowing 23 runs in the previous 2 games...They’ve allowed 3 runs or fewer in 7 of their last 9 games. The Sox allowed 5 HR Friday at BAL, but have allowed 1 or 0 HR in 9 of their last 12 games. ....Last night’s starter Michael Wacha tossed 5.2 scoreless innings...Sox starting pitchers allowed 15 ER over 8.2 IP Thursday and Friday (15.58 ERA), but own a 2.23 ERA in their other 8 starts since 8/10 (12 ER/48.1 IP). Sox starters have thrown 5.0+ innings and allowed 3 runs or fewer in 8 of their last 10 games.  ... Red Sox relievers have allowed 8 ER in 7.2 IP over the last 2 games, after giving up only 7 ER over 21.1 IP in their previous 7 games (2.95 ERA). Garrett Whitlock has 4 saves, a 1.83 ERA, and a 0.61 WHIP in 11 outings since being reinstated from the Injured List on 7/15 (19.2 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 20 SO). John Schreiber ranks 8th in the AL and 17th in MLB with a 2.02 ERA (11 ER/49.0 IP; min. 45.0 IP). ....Alex Cora ranks 10th in franchise history with 344 wins as manager of the Red Sox, only 1 shy of tying Eddie Kasko for 9th on the list (345). Among the 10 people to manage 600+ games for the Red Sox, Cora ranks 3rd in winning percentage (.567, 344-263) behind Don Zimmer (.575, 411-304) and Terry Francona (.574, 744-552).  ... 32 of the Red Sox’ 41 remaining games are against teams ahead of them in the AL East or Wild Card standings...In addition to 29 games against AL East teams, the Sox also will play 3 at MIN from 8/29-31.  Tonight, the Red Sox and Orioles will play in the MLB Little League Classic at Muncy Bank Ballpark at Bowman Field in Williamsport, PA. The venue is home to the Williamsport Crosscutters, members of the MLB Draft League after time as a Short-A affiliate in the Cubs (1994-98), Pirates (1999-2006), and Phillies (2007-20) organizations. ....Jason Varitek played in the 1984 Little League World Series, leading the Altamonte Springs, FL team to victory in the U.S. Championship bracket. In 2012, Varitek was honored by Little League International with the William A. “Bill” Shea Distinguished Little League Graduate Award during the 66th Little League Baseball World Series. According to Will Leitch of MLB.com, Varitek is the only person to appear in the Little League World Series, College World Series, MLB World Series, World Baseball Classic, and Summer Olympics. ... Christian Arroyo tied a season high with 3 hits last night, his 3rd time doing so in his last 4 games. In 19 games since returning from the IL on 7/30, Arroyo is batting .397 with a .977 OPS. Kiké Hernández has recorded an RBI in each of his 4 games since returning from the IL on Tuesday, including a 2-run HR in the 6th inning last night to extend the Sox’ lead to 3-0. Last night’s starter Michael Wacha has tossed 12.2 scoreless innings since returning from the IL on 8/14. 

NOTES: 

* RHP Nate Eovaldi, who had his last start pushed back five days because of some soreness in his trapezius muscle, will not start the homestand opener Tuesday. Alex Cora said Sunday that Eovaldi is not responding as they had hoped.

* MLB allowed both teams to add an extra player for the game, and the Red Sox added Franchy Cordero.