Brad Bergesen turned in his most impressive start this season, but the bullpen faltered late and the O's missed a chance to sweep Boston and beat Jon Lester at the same time on Thursday night.
The final score shows the Red Sox beat the Orioles 6-2, but it was anyone's game through the first seven innings...
After the Sox took a 1-0 lead on two doubles in the top of the first, the O's answered right back with a run of their own in the bottom half...Brian Roberts walked, took second on Nick Markakis' single, stole third and came home on Derrek Lee's RBI single.
Bergesen allowed the Sox to take the lead again in the third, but finished with six solid innings of two-run ball, allowing six hits and two walks while fanning five. Bergesen showed poise in the sixth inning: after allowing a lead-off single and a double to put runners at second and third with none out, Brad struck out the next two batters, and after an intentional walk to load the bases, induced a long fly ball to deep center to keep the Sox off the board.
Vladimir Guerrero rewarded Bergesen's effort in the bottom half of the inning, blasting a solo shot to left to tie the game at two. It would turn out to be the last run the O's would score...
Jim Johnson came on in relief and allowed a run in the seventh before the bullpen imploded in the eighth...Johnson walked the first batter he faced before the struggling Michael Gonzalez took the mound. Gonzalez sandwiched two singles between a walk and was charged with two runs in 1/3 of an inning, ballooning his ERA to 13.50. Jason Berken was summoned to stop the bleeding, but the damage had been done...
The O's still managed to take 2-of-3 from Boston and finished the nine-game home series with a 4-5 record. I was hoping for more...the Orioles (10-13) are now once again in dead last in the division.
The Birds now start a seven-game stretch on the road, starting in Chicago to take on the White Sox...Jake Arrieta looks to put the O's back in the win column!
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