Orioles' Sloppy 6th Leads To 5-1 Loss To Red Sox
BOSTON (AP) -- A few broken laces led to a long inning for Baltimore's Bud Norris.
The Orioles starter was chased with five unearned runs in the sixth, carrying the Boston Red Sox to a 5-1 victory Wednesday night.
First baseman Chris Davis booted Alejandro De Aza's grounder for an error to open the inning, Norris misplayed Sandy Leon's sacrifice for an error and the Red Sox were on their way to the big inning.
"The ball went through my glove," Davis said. "It broke the web and De Aza obviously runs well and was able to beat it out."
Five batters later, it was 5-1.
David Ortiz's two-run homer capped the five-run sixth, ending Boston's six-game losing streak to Baltimore.
"It's a bit frustrating to know that that's how that inning was, but, unfortunately, there's been a couple this year that have gone that way," Norris said.
The Red Sox won despite injuries to two key starters.
Left fielder Hanley Ramirez left with a bruised left hand, and second baseman Dustin Pedroia limped off after his tiebreaking, two-run single with right hamstring tightness.
"We're still in the process of gathering all the information," manager John Farrell said. "There's advanced imaging going on for Peddy and Hanley. The injuries are what everyone saw. We don't have full information yet."
Baltimore lost for just the fourth time in its last 16 games.
Clay Buchholz (5-6) worked seven solid innings, giving up one run on eight hits, striking out seven and walking one. Junichi Tazawa struck out the side in the eighth before Koji Uehara got the final three outs.
It was Boston's fifth win in eight games.
Trailing 1-0, the Red Sox scored the five unearned off Norris (2-6). Mookie Betts' RBI single tied it before Pedroia's two-run single pushed them ahead. After Pedroia rounded first, he grabbed his right leg in the hamstring area.
Ortiz followed with his homer into the first row of the center-field bleachers.
In the fifth, Ramirez was running between first and second on a hit-and-run when Xander Bogaerts' line drive hit his hand. He left the field shaking his hand. By rule, he was out and Bogaerts was credited with a single.
The Orioles had jumped ahead 1-0 on Davis' RBI single in the sixth.
STREAK SNAPPED
The Orioles' six-game winning streak against Boston was the first time in a season since they won seven in 1961.
NOT GOOD AWAY FROM CAMDEN
Norris fell to 1-5 on the road this season.
BROCK OF ALL TRADES
With the injuries, Brock Holt played three different positions in three consecutive innings. He started the game at first, moved to left in the sixth and second in the seventh.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles: CF Adam Jones sat out for the sixth time in the last eight games with an injured right shoulder. "Improvement today," manager Buck Showalter said. "We're getting there."
Red Sox: OF Shane Victorino, on the 15-day DL with a strained left calf, started a rehab stint with Triple-A Pawtucket. "Back-to-back first couple of days, two or three at-bats," Farrell said. "We've got to get him to where he goes nine consecutive before he comes back to us. That wouldn't be on this upcoming road trip." ... Farrell also said C Blake Swihart, who sprained his left foot sliding into third over the weekend, is expected back in the lineup Thursday.
UP NEXT
Orioles: RHP Miguel Gonzalez (5-4, 3.33 ERA) is slated to come of the 15-day DL and start the series finale Thursday. He's been out since June 10 with a strained right groin.
Red Sox: Rookie LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (3-1, 3.13 ERA) is scheduled to start Thursday. He's allowed one run or less in four of his first five major-league starts.
(Copyright 2015 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)