So much for the first place Boston Red Sox. The Baltimore Orioles reclaimed first place for now with a big win in tonight's game. Eduardo Rodriguez (1-2, 6.97 ERA) once again was shelled for 5 runs and failing to last 5 total innings. The normally potent Red Sox offense was shut completely down by Tyler Wilson for no runs in 8 innings. Clay Buchholz had a decent outing out of the bullpen but that was the only bit of good news as the Orioles took over first place with a 5-1 victory at Fenway Park.
Rodriguez got the ball in the top of the first inning and Adam Jones popped up to Dustin Pedroia to start. Joey Rickard and Manny Machado both dropped base hits to right but Mark Trumbo advanced Rickard to third with a fly out to deep right. Chris Davis took an 86 mph fastball on the inside corner for strike three to end the inning. Wilson got the ball in the bottom of the first and Mr. Mookie Betts was robbed of a hit by Nolan Reimold to start. Dustin Pedroia popped up to Adam Jones in shallow left and Xander Bogaerts flied out to right to end the inning.
Matt Wieters swung and missed at a 94 mph fastball for strike three to start the top of the second. Jonathan Schoop whiffed on a 95 mph fastball and Reimold hit a grounder to second to end the inning. David Ortiz led off the bottom of the second by grounding out to second to start. Hanley Ramirez lined out to a running Jones and Jackie Bradley Jr grounded out to second to end the inning.
The O's struck first in the top of the third as Paul Janish walked to start. Jones homered onto the Mass Pike to put the O's up for good. Rickard doubled to the left field wall and Sox pitching coach Carl Willis ran out to tell Rodriguez that Bandidas with Salma Hayek was on in the dugout. Eduardo was so excited he got Machado to pop up to left. Trumbo whiffed on a changeup away and Davis grounded out to second to end the inning with the O's ahead 2-0.
Rusney Castillo began the bottom of the third by flying out to center to start. Travis Shaw lined out to a running Rickard but Sandy Leon singled down the first base line. Mr. Mookie drew a walk but Pedroia popped up to Davis in foul territory to end the inning.
The O's tagged Rodriguez in the top of the fourth as Wieters walked to start. Schoop hit a double play ball to Bogaerts who flipped to Pedroia WHO DROPPED IT! He managed to gather the ball in time to get the force at second to avoid an error but the O's took advantage. Rodriguez got Reimold swinging but Janish dropped a hit to center to advance Schoop to third. Jones doubled to the left field wall to score Schoop to increase the lead. Rickard popped up to center to end the inning but it was 3-0 Orioles.
Bogaerts grounded out to short to start the bottom of the fourth before Ortiz lined out to Davis. Ramirez grounded out to short to end the inning.
The O's finally finished off Rodriguez in the top of the fifth as Machado doubled off the centerfield wall to start. Trumbo popped up to Ramirez but Davis singled to left to score Machado and chase Rodriguez. Another disappointing start for E-Rod who lasted just 4 1/3 innings and would be charged with 5 runs. Matt Barnes came in and blew away Wieters but Schoop doubled past the diving Shaw to score Davis from first to wrap up the scoring for Baltimore. Reimold grounded out to third to end the inning but it was 5-0 O's.
Wilson continued his dominance in the bottom of the fifth as JBJ whiffed to start. Castillo took strike three as Sox analyst Jerry Remy quipped that he hasn't seen anything special from Castillo to justify his 72 million dollar price tag. Rickard robbed Shaw of a hit with a great catch to end the inning.
Barnes returned for the top of the sixth and Janish lined out to left to start. Jones lined out to a running JBJ but Rickard walked and stole second. Machado flied out to center to end the inning. Wilson cruised in the bottom of the sixth as as Leon grounded out to first to start. Mr. Mookie whiffed as Sox analyst Dave O'Brien mentioned Tyler Wilson wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon when his playing days were over. Pedroia grounded out to third to end the inning. Any hope Wilson can be a gunslinger too like Doc Holiday?
Clay Buchholz came in for the top of the seventh and got Trumbo swinging to start. Davis popped up to left and and Clay blew away Wieters to end the inning. Bogaerts was robbed of extra bases by a great diving catch by Janish to start the bottom of the seventh but Ortiz sliced a double into the left field corner. O's manager Buck Showwalter challenged that Ortiz was out at second but the call was upheld, safe. Ramirez flied out to left but Ortiz moved to third on a wild pitch. JBJ grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
Bogaerts ran into centerfield to catch a pop up from Schoop to start the top of the eighth before Reimold hit a rocket to center for a base hit. Janish hit a bullet to Pedroia who doubled off Reimold at first to end the inning. Wilson finished with a flurry in the bottom of the eighth as Castillo whiffed to start. Shaw lined a base hit up the middle but Leon went down hacking. Mr. Mookie whiffed to end the inning. Wilson had tossed 8 shutout innings while allowing just 3 hits, he was outstanding.
Buchholz returned for the top of the ninth and Jones grounded out to second to start. Rickard whiffed but Machado singled up the middle. Trumbo went down hacking to end the inning. For what its worth, Buchholz was very sharp and hit 94 on the gun. Too bad he couldn't do this earlier as a starter.
Brad Brach took over for the bottom of the ninth and Pedroia popped up to right to start. Bogaerts hit one up the elevator shaft but Ortiz broke up the shutout by belting his 17th home run of the year and his 520th of his career over the bullpen. Ramirez popped up to short to end the game. The O's had won it 5-1.
Jackass of the Night is Eduardo Rodriguez. Not that the Sox did anything with Tyler Wilson, but E-Rod didn't help by getting knocked out in the fifth inning after allowing 5 runs.
The Good:
David Ortiz was 2 for 4 with a home run.
Travis Shaw was 1 for 3.
Sandy Leon was 1 for 3.
Clay Buchholz tossed 3 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Dustin Pedroia was 0 for 4.
Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 4.
Hanley Ramirez was 0 for 4.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
Rusney Castillo was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was 0 for 3 but walked.
Matt Barnes allowed an inherited runner to score but none of his own in 1 2/3 innings.
Final Thoughts:
Not much you can do when a pitcher completely shuts you down. The sad part it was by Tyler Wilson, not someone like Chris Tillman. Rodriguez stunk and everyone is getting frustrated with him. Jerry Remy made some cracks on commentary, Sox manager John Farrell was visibly frustrated and it just doesn't seem he has tenacity lately to get guys out. Nothing went right tonight other than Buchholz. If Farrell's plan is to bring Buchholz out of the bullpen to get guys out and get some confidence back, tonight worked to perfection. Too bad that's the only thing that went right as the Sox relinquished first place. Baltimore made great defensive plays and just seemed hungrier in this series. Its only June but its clear what the measuring stick in the AL East is. The loss dropped the Sox to 37-28, 1 game behind the Orioles for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night the Sox look to bounce back when they start a set with the Seattle Mariners. Former Mariner Roenis Elias will be activated off the Disabled List to make the start for the Red Sox. Hisashi Iwakuma goes for the Mariners at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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