Melee At Fenway

At least the O's made things interesting in the end...

The Birds dropped their fifth straight game on Friday night, falling to the Red Sox 10-3 in a game that was pretty much over after Boston scored eight runs in the first inning.

With Boston ahead 10-3 in the eighth inning, things got a little crazy...Kevin Gregg threw a few pitches inside to Sox slugger David Ortiz, and Ortiz pointed at him and started toward the mound. Both benches emptied, but no punches were thrown. After Gregg got Ortiz to pop-up to center field, Gregg commented on Ortiz's lack of hustle to get to first base, and Ortiz charged him. A few punches were thrown, both benches emptied and Gregg and Ortiz were ejected, along with Jim Johnson and Boston's Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

The eighth-inning brawl was the only life the Orioles showed in a game that Boston dominated from the very beginning. Zach Britton lasted just 2/3 of an inning and was charged with eight runs (seven earned) on six hits and two walks. Britton (6-7) looked lost in his Fenway debut, and the O's defense didn't help his cause...the Birds were charged with just one error but there were two or three sloppy plays that extended the slaughter.

Brad Bergesen came on in relief and contained Boston's offense before exiting the game in the fourth after being hit in the forearm by a line drive off Ortiz's bat. Yup, this game had it all...

The last-place Orioles (36-50) now send Alfredo Simon to the mound Saturday night...let's hope this was the spark the O's needed to start winning a few games. We'll find out in a few hours...