Bob Haynie: The Orioles Get Thumped By Red Sox
Well, getting drilled by the Red Sox 13-2 is not exactly how the Baltimore Orioles needed to start their big nine-game road trip.
I know it's only one game, but I was hoping the Orioles were primed to get at the Sox on Tuesday night. Instead, they were drubbed in front of 36,226 people at Fenway Park and a horrified audience on MASN.
Baltimore starter Wei-Yin Chen was not on his game as he gave up eight runs in 3 2/3 innings pitched. Chen himself admitted after the debacle that his outing was "probably the worst in my career".
Red Sox outfielder Shane Victorino did his best Joe DiMaggio imitation by going 3-for-3 with two HR's and seven RBI's. Chen was not the only Orioles pitcher to struggle as Miguel Gonzalez, Troy Patton and Brian Matusz helped allow Boston to pound out 14 hits. The only Baltimore pitcher to make it out unscathed was Francisco Rodriguez.
Offensively, the Orioles could only muster four hits and two runs against Boston lefty Felix Doubront. So, it wasn't all on the pitching.
With Tuesday's loss the Orioles lose a game not only in the AL East standings, but also in the Wild Card chase.
The Birds now trail Boston by 6.5 games in the East and are 3.5 games behind the Oakland A's in the Wild Card.
On Wednesday night, Bud Norris will start for the Orioles against John Lackey. Norris needs to give manager Buck Showalter some innings, for sure.
If the Orioles want to make a run at the division title, they better start putting together some "W's". They better start doing that immediately.
