Red Sox Blank O's, Take Series Lead
BOSTON (WJZ) -- The Boston Red Sox blanked the Orioles 4-0 on Sunday afternoon to take a 2-1 lead in the four-game series.
Boston struck first in the fourth inning when Xander Bogaerts hit a sac-fly to center field to score former Oriole Steve Pearce.
Orioles starting pitcher John Means only surrendered the one run in Sunday's outing, but the 25-year-old lefty lasted just five innings and gave up four hits.
The Orioles bullpen continued to struggle, and Bogaerts continued to stay hot for the Red Sox.
Bogaerts smacked a three-run home run to center to put Boston up 4-0 in the bottom of the eighth.
Bogaerts' four RBI day proved to be the difference as the Orioles came up short in the bottom of the ninth inning.
After a three-hit, four RBI performance on Saturday, Chris Davis went 0-4 with two strikeouts on the day.
The Orioles will wrap up their series with the Red Sox on Monday at 11:05 a.m.
Dan Straily is slated to start for the Birds while Hector Velazquez will get the nod for the Sox.
Straily was signed by the O's in early April.
He went 5-6 with a 4.12 ERA in 23 starts with Miami last season. He received $1,209,677 in termination pay from the Marlins when released on March 25 from a $5 million, one-year contract that was not guaranteed.
The O's can split the series with the Red Sox with a win tomorrow.
After their series with Boston, the Orioles will hit the road to take on the first-place Rays in a three-game series.
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