O's Squeak Past Boston

For seven innings, it looked like Jeremy Guthrie was finally going to add another "W" to his resume...within a span of four batters, Guthrie's decision was lost...but the Birds held on to beat Boston 5-4.

Guthrie (1-3) turned in yet another quality start, going six scoreless innings against the visiting Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night, but had to settle for a no-decision after the bullpen allowed the Sox to tie the game in the eighth inning...Guthrie struck out six, walked one and allowed seven hits while lowering his ERA to a team-best 2.53.

For once, it looked like the bats would give Guthrie enough to work with...Luke Scott put the Birds on the board with a two-run bomb off Josh Beckett in the fourth inning. Adam Jones followed with a solo shot, marking the first time the O's have gone deep back-to-back this season. Brian Roberts snapped a 12-game hit streak but notched his team-leading 16th RBI with a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning to put the O's up 4-0.

Jeremy Accardo took over for Guthrie (his pitch count was at 111) and worked a 1-2-3 seventh before allowing a single and a walk to lead off the eighth inning. Clay Rapada relieved Accardo and gave up an RBI single before being replaced with Koji Uehara, who immediately served-up a three-run jack to Kevin Youkilis to knot the game at four (Uehara settled down to get the next three outs and was credited with his first win of the season).

The Birds came right back in the bottom of the inning...Nick Markakis and Derrek Lee both singled and advanced to second and third on a passed ball. Markakis was thrown out at home after yet another passed ball before Vladimir Guerrero singled to give the O's the 5-4 lead...

Kevin Gregg picked up his second save in as many nights after yet another 1-2-3 inning (it seems as if Gregg may be getting comfortable in the closing role) and the O's secured a winning series against Boston no matter what the outcome on Thursday night...

Brad Bergesen takes the mound for the Orioles, but has to face Jon Lester, the "Oriole-Killer." Lester is 13-0 against Baltimore in 16 career starts...