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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 8, 2022 15:01:45 GMT -5
Red Sox @ Orioles Friday, 9th September 2022 7pm @ OPACY
Bello 1-4/5.91
Voth 4-2/2.72
Orioles continue playoff push against Red Sox FLM The Baltimore Orioles begin a steeper climb for a postseason berth this weekend against the visiting Boston Red Sox.
The Orioles (72-65) watched their American League playoff chances take a hit when they lost three of four games to the visiting Toronto Blue Jays, who now lead Baltimore by 4 1/2 games for third and final wild-card spot.
"It's going to take some wins," Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said of closing that gap. "We need to win. We won five series going into this series. We had a rough series. We've got to bounce back and continue to play winning series going forward."
That effort begins Friday night against the Red Sox (67-71) in a series that is something of a role reversal. Recent seasons have seen the Orioles looking to play spoiler against the playoff-seeking Red Sox, and now it's Boston on the outside looking in as they sit 10 games behind Toronto.
Baltimore took a 1-0 lead in the first inning against the Blue Jays Wednesday, but Alek Manoah silenced their bats after that in an eight-inning effort.
Right-hander Austin Voth (4-2 4.41 ERA) can rebound in the opener for Baltimore. Voth allowed a run on six hits and struck out four over 3 1/3 innings in a no-decision last time out during an 8-1 win over the Athletics.
Hyde lifted Voth after he allowed three straight singles to load the bases in the fourth, calling on Keegan Akin who escaped without allowing a run.
"It just wasn't Voth's night," Hyde said. "Something was a little bit off tonight. He's been so great for us and due for a little bit of a hiccup. Only giving up one run there was enormous."
Voth's sample size versus Boston is small. He is 0-1 with a 15.00 ERA in three innings of work.
Boston counters with rookie right-hander Brayan Bello (1-4, 5.91 ERA), who will make his seventh Major League start. He earned his first win Saturday, throwing six shutout innings against Texas. The 23-year-old allowed three hits and a walk while striking out five.
"I think he knows what's going on and he's thinking about what he should do," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "As far as executing the game plan, that was his best."
Boston limps into Baltimore following a three-game sweep by the host Tampa Bay Rays, including a 1-0 loss on Wednesday. In that game, the Red Sox went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base.
"We didn't put the ball in play, we didn't hit the ball hard with men in scoring position, and they do what they do," Cora said.
The Red Sox finished 1-10 at Tropicana Field and saw their record against AL East opponents fall to 18-39.
The Orioles lead the season series against the Red Sox 7-4 with three games this weekend and four games in Boston (Sept. 26-29) remaining.
Boston shortstop Xander Bogaerts is expected to return after leaving Tuesday night's game with back spasms and sitting out Wednesday as a precaution.
--Field Level Media
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 8, 2022 15:03:29 GMT -5
Probable SP Match Ups
Friday, 7:05 p.m. ET -- RHP Brayan Bello (1-4, 5.91 ERA) vs. RHP Austin Voth (4-2, 4.41 ERA)
Saturday, 5:05 p.m. ET -- RHP Michael Wacha (10-1, 2.58 ERA) vs. RHP Spenser Watkins (4-6, 4.37 ERA)
Sunday, 1:05 p.m. ET -- LHP Rich Hill (6-6, 4.79 ERA) vs. RHP Kyle Bradish (3-5, 5.30 ERA)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 9, 2022 3:11:27 GMT -5
Red Sox’ record against AL East foes isn’t just bad — it could be historically bad By Alex Speier Globe Staff,Updated September 8, 2022, 12:27 p.m.
An unflattering form of history is well within reach for the 2022 Red Sox.
Mercifully, the Red Sox left Tropicana Field for the final time this season Wednesday night, once again swept by the Rays. The 1-0 defeat ran their losing streak in the Trop to nine games — the longest by any visiting team in a season in the 25-year history of Major League Baseball in Tampa Bay — and further cemented their status as American League East roadkill.
The Red Sox are 18-39 against AL East opponents, a .316 winning percentage that would be far and away their worst in the division since its formation in 1969. The current standard for futility — and the only time they had a sub-.400 record in division play over a full season — is 26-46 (.361) by the yearlong dumpster fire that was the 2012 team under Bobby Valentine.
The Red Sox have to go at least 10-9 over their remaining 19 games against the AL East to ensure that they don’t set a new unsavory mark.
(The Sox went 14-26 against the AL East during the pandemic-compressed 2020 campaign, a .350 winning percentage. They have to go at least 9-10 to surpass that.)
The .316 would be tied with the 2019 Orioles for the eighth-worst in-division mark by an AL East team in a full season. Worst in-division records by AL East teams, 1969-2022 (minimum 50 games) Team AL East record Win percentage Overall record Win percentage 1987 Orioles 18-60 .231 67-95 .414 2021 Orioles 20-56 .263 52-110 .321 1996 Tigers 14-38 .269 53-109 .327 1979 Blue Jays 22-56 .282 53-109 .327 2018 Orioles 23-53 .303 47-115 .290 2008 Orioles 22-50 .306 68-93 .422 1978 Blue Jays 28-61 .315 59-102 .366 2019 Orioles 24-52 .316 54-108 .333 2022 Red Sox 18-39 .316 67-71 .486 1975 Tigers 28-60 .318 57-102 .358 1988 Orioles 25-53 .321 54-107 .335 2009 Orioles 24-48 .333 64-98 .395 2010 Orioles 24-48 .333 66-96 .407 2002 Devil Rays 25-50 .333 55-106 .342 SOURCE: STATS
The struggles in the division are peculiar given how dominant they have been when facing AL Central, AL West, and National League opponents. The Sox have a lopsided 49-32 record (.605) when not playing their chief rivals, an almost unheard-of disparity.
Typically, teams that are bad within their division remain bad outside of it. Of the 13 full-season AL East teams to lose at least two out of three games (.333 winning percentage or worse) in divisional competition, all 13 finished with at least 93 losses. Nine finished with at least 100, and seven had at least 105.
There’s only one comparable instance of a team struggling so desperately within the division while thriving outside of it. In 1987, the Orioles went 18-60 (.231) against the AL East — the worst record to date — and 49-35 (.583) against a weak AL West (won by the Twins at 85-77).
So what gives?
“There have been games that are out of hand, but we haven’t been able to finish games,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora on Wednesday. “Obviously, the record is the record. We haven’t won too many series against the East.
“But if you look at the game [Wednesday], we were right there, but at the end, you have to have more runs than the opposition, and we haven’t done that.”
While Cora’s concern about the inability to win close games has some basis, it’s not the primary driver for the struggles. After all, the Sox have a better record in close games against the AL East — 11-18 (.379) in games decided by two or fewer runs, and 9-15 (.375) in one-run games — than they do overall in the division. Mostly, they have simply been flattened, going 7-21 in games decided by three or more runs.
It’s hard to pin blame on one particular area of the roster. The Sox are averaging just 3.81 runs per game against the AL East (down from 5.02 outside the division) while hitting .250/.302/.395 (down from .264/.331/.421). The pitching staff and defense have permitted a jarring 5.77 runs per game in the division, compared with a respectable 4.21 outside of it.
So again: What gives?
Certainly, the AL East is loaded — a notion borne out by the division’s .586 winning percentage when playing other opponents. There’s a reason why it seems likely to send three teams to the playoffs, with a chance the Orioles could join the Yankees, Rays, and Blue Jays. Related: Ceddanne Rafaela, the Red Sox prospect who ‘runs circles around’ Mookie Betts in the outfield, wraps a superhero season
And with that acknowledgement of the present comes a formidable if not daunting reality: The division isn’t going anywhere. The Orioles’ rebuild has yielded a core that appears ready to compete for several years; the Rays perennially forge a pitching staff that gives opponents fits; the Blue Jays have star-level talent across the roster; and the Yankees are nearly 30 years into a run of constant contention.
That said, the schedule will become less imbalanced starting in 2023. The Sox will play 56 games against the AL East rather than 76.
“One year late, I guess,” Cora joked last month when the schedule was announced.
All the same, to truly contend again, the Red Sox will have to be competitive in games against their chief foes. Just one aspect of needed repair heading toward a monumental offseason.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 9, 2022 3:13:51 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Brayan Bello hopes end of 2022 can cement his place with 2023 Red Sox By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated September 8, 2022, 7:31 p.m.
BALTIMORE — Brayan Bello averaged 12.1 strikeouts per nine innings during the 18 games he pitched in the minor leagues this season. Whenever he needed an out, the 23-year-old Red Sox righthander had the ability to overmatch most hitters.
Bello has a 5.91 earned run average in eight major league games. The lessons are coming fast.
“For me the biggest thing I’ve learned is you have to pitch to get outs, not to get swing and misses or strikeouts. Just get the out,” he said via a translator. “These games have taught me a lot.”
Sox manager Alex Cora was happy to hear the rookie was thinking that way.
“That’s the most important thing, be efficient,” he said. “You see Michael [Wacha] and how he works. That’s what we’re trying to accomplish.”
Bello will be coming off the best start of his brief major league career when he faces the Orioles on Friday night at Camden Yards. He fired six shutout innings against the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park on Saturday to get his first victory.
Bello allowed three hits, walked one, and struck out five.
“I feel very confident after my last start,” he said. “Now I feel like I have the confidence to throw my pitches for a strike and know they’re not going to get hit that much. I don’t have to go around the batters too much.”
Bello’s changeup has been his best pitch to date. His fastball and sinker have above-average velocity, but have been catching too much of the plate.
There’s a chance Bello will face the Yankees twice before the season ends and the Blue Jays in the final week. Going up against contenders will tell the Red Sox a lot about how Bello could fit into their plans for 2023.
“We’re going to face really good teams, and I have to pitch my best and be 100 percent to beat those teams,” he said. “I can keep getting experience that I can transfer to next year.”
Bello has mixed in well with the other starters and is learning how to best use his four days between starts.
“He’s really good at getting information and then executing on the mound,” Cora said. “There are a lot of guys helping him out. I saw him talking to Nate [Eovaldi] about his changeup grip during a game.
“Little by little, he’s learning how to use his stuff.”
Bello said his mother, Yaselys, will be coming to Fenway Park next week to see him pitch. She has never seen him pitch professionally.
“I’m excited about that,” he said. “This has been a dream come true for my family.” Rise of the Orioles
Cora was impressed by the Orioles at the end of last season, when they took two of three from a Sox team fighting to make the playoffs.
“It started last year in the second half of the season. Their pitching was different,” he said. “Different angles, different pitches. Good fastballs. Then in spring training you saw they were working in the young talent. You saw they had something good.”
Cora worked with Orioles general manager Mike Elias and assistant GM Sig Mejdal in Houston in 2017, and knew they would change the franchise for the better.
“They had a process they followed,” Cora said. “It started in Houston with the pitching and they’re doing it again.”
The Orioles are 72-65 and in fourth place in the Wild Card standings, 4½ games out of a spot.
“They were in the bottom for a while and got the best players in the draft,” Cora said. “Now you can see it changing. They’re going to be a force.”
The Sox are 5-7 against the Orioles this season, 2-4 at Camden Yards.
Austin Voth is scheduled to face the Sox on Friday. The righthander is 4-2 with a 2.71 ERA in 17 games since being claimed off waivers from the Nationals in June. Wong will get a look
Rookie catcher Connor Wong started Wednesday’s 1-0 loss at Tampa Bay, and is scheduled to start both Friday night and Sunday afternoon.
“He’s going to start playing more and more. We need to see what he can do,” Cora said.
Wong, 26, was one of the prospects obtained from the Dodgers in the Mookie Betts trade. He had an .839 OPS and 15 home runs in 81 games for Triple A Worcester this season.
“We like him a lot; we like the things he’s done throughout the season in Triple A,” Cora said. “Offensively he’s catching up.”
Wong has hit .241 with a .772 OPS in 15 major league games going back to last season. Missed chances
The Sox were 2 for 17 with runners in scoring position in the three-game series at Tampa Bay. Their .741 OPS in such situations is just a tick below the league average of .742 . . . Barring something unusual, no Sox player will reach 100 runs scored this season. That last happened in 2015 . . . Lefthander Jake Diekman, who was traded to the White Sox on Aug. 1, was the team’s nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award for Community Service. Diekman started the Gut It Out Foundation in 2015 to aid people with ulcerative colitis.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 9, 2022 3:32:43 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles Friday, September 9, 2022 at 7:05pm EDT Written by Mark Ruelle
The Boston Red Sox travel to Baltimore to take on the Orioles on Friday night in game one of a three-game American League East battle over the weekend. The Red Sox come in after getting swept in a three-game series to start the week in Tampa Bay. The Orioles come in having lost three of four games to the Blue Jays to start the week. The pitching matchup for Friday night will be rookie right-hander Brayan Bello (1-4, 4.91) of the Red Sox taking on Austin Voth (4-2, 4.41) of the Orioles. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm EST.
Playing out the String The Boston Red Sox will be on the outside of the playoffs looking in this season after advancing to the American League Championship in 2021. The Red Sox have been unable to overcome countless injuries, particularly to the team's pitching staff, and the sudden power drop-off of key players like Xander Bogaerts and JD Martinez. The duo have combined for 51 home runs last season but have just 23 home runs combined this season. As a result, what was once one of the most feared lineups in baseball is now a mediocre starting nine with far too many holes in it. That was on full display in the final game of the Rays series when the Sox lineup was shutout 1-0 by five different Rays pitchers.
The Red Sox have begun to add some younger players to the roster to showcase down the stretch. First baseman Tristan Casas was recently brought to the big club and belted his first major league home run in the Tampa Bay series. On Friday night, the Red Sox will feature another potential future star in right-hander Brayan Bello. Bello has steadily improved since his callup in July. In his last three starts, he is 1-1 with a solid 3.00 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 15 innings of work.
Running out of Steam Has the Orioles magic finally subsided? Despite trading away key assets at the trade deadline and nary a marquee star on its entire pitching staff, the Orioles have inexplicably remained in the hunt for a playoff spot in the American League. This week, however, against the Blue Jays, the Orioles' run of good fortune seems to have ended. The Orioles lost three of four games to the Blue Jays and now find themselves 11-games out of first place and 5.5 games out of second place. Still, the Orioles have plenty to build on this offseason as the team reflects on an overachieving season.
With just over three weeks left in the regular season and nearly six games separating the Orioles from the Rays and Jays in the wildcard race, the Orioles are likely now just playing to stay over .500 and out of the basement in the American League East. The Orioles come into this three game set with Boston with a 5.5 game cushion over the Sox, who are in the cellar. The red-hot Austin Voth will get the first crack to keep the Red Sox at bay on Friday night at Camden Yards. In his last five starts, Voth is 2-1 with a 2.05 ERA. He has allowed just 19 hits in 26.1 innings pitched. Voth has yet to make an appearance against Boston this season.
Red Sox at Orioles Friday, at 7:05 PM EST Clear According to Forecast.io, it's expected to be 77° F with a 0% chance of precipitation and 6 MPH wind blowing right to left in Baltimore at 7:05 PM EST. Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com Forecast.io
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 9, 2022 7:46:01 GMT -5
This will keep the NESN clowns going this week-end
Buster Olney @buster_ESPN 56m Odds for making the playoffs, per Fangraphs: Dodgers, Astros, Mets, Braves, Yankees 100% Cardinals 99.6% Mariners 99.4% Rays 98.4% Jays 97.7% Padres 87.6% Phillies 81.5% Guardians 43.5% White Sox 31.8% Brewers 31.3% Twins 26.3% Orioles 2.9% Red Sox 0.1% The other 13 teams: 0.0%
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 9, 2022 9:44:54 GMT -5
Game 139: Red Sox at Orioles lineups and notesBy Andrew Mahoney Globe Staff,Updated September 9, 2022, 33 minutes ago After a day off, the Red Sox resume their road trip against American League East foes with a three-game series with the Orioles. The Red Sox began the trip on the wrong end of a three-game sweep by the Rays, further cementing their last-place position in the division. Now 10 games behind the Blue Jays for the final spot in the wild-card standings, the Sox will look to play the role of spoiler as the Orioles try to stay within striking distance of Toronto. Here are the standings. Brayan Bello gets the start for Friday’s opener, with Connor Wong scheduled to be behind the dish. Lineups RED SOX (67-71): 1. Tommy Pham (R) LF 2. Alex Verdugo (L) RF 3. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS 4. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 5. Trevor Story (R) 2B 6. J.D. Martinez (R) DH 7. Triston Casas (L) 1B 8. Enrique Hernandez (R) CF 9. Connor Wong (R) C Pitching: RHP Brayan Bello (1-4, 5.91 ERA) ORIOLES (72-65): 1. Cedric Mullins (L) CF 2. Adley Rutschman (S) C 3. Anthony Santander (S) DH 4. Ryan Mountcastle (R) 1B 5. Gunnar Henderson (L) SS 6. Ramon Urias (R) 3B 7. Rougned Odor (L) 2B 8. Austin Hays (R) LF 9. Kyle Stowers (L) RF Pitching: RHP Austin Voth (4-2, 4.41 ERA) Time: 7:05 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Red Sox vs. Voth: Abraham Almonte 0-1, Xander Bogaerts 1-2, Rafael Devers 1-1, J.D. Martinez 1-3, Reese McGuire 0-3, Tommy Pham 1-4, Kevin Plawecki 3-6, Trevor Story 1-1, Alex Verdugo 1-3 Orioles vs. Bello: Has not faced any Baltimore batters Stat of the day: Voth is 4-2 with a 2.71 ERA in 17 games since being claimed off waivers from the Nationals in June. Notes: Bello earned his first win Saturday, throwing six shutout innings against Texas. The 23-year-old allowed three hits and a walk while striking out five. Making his seventh start in the big leagues, this Bello’s first time facing Baltimore. … Voth has pitched just three innings against the Red Sox, posting a 15.00 ERA. In his most recent start, Voth allowed a run on six hits and struck out four over 3 ⅓ innings. Song of the Day: Tom Petty - It's Good To Be King www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SF1iLXSQto
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 9, 2022 16:13:06 GMT -5
Danny Vietti @dannyvietti48m AL East records against non-AL East teams Yankees: 47-30 (.610) Red Sox: 49-32 (.605) Orioles: 44-33 (.571) Rays: 42-32 (.568) Blue Jays: 46-35 (.568)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 9, 2022 16:15:07 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe4m #RedSox still working to get Nate Eovaldi back this season. Playing catch tomorrow and bullpen scheduled for Sunday. Kutter Crawford has not yet thrown a bullpen. Slower progress than expected. But "as of now" hope is he will pitch again this season.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Sept 9, 2022 20:01:51 GMT -5
9 straights balls by Bello, and Odor pops out on a 1-0 count.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 10, 2022 3:25:33 GMT -5
Henderson's big hit helps Orioles rally past Red Sox 3-2 AP
BALTIMORE (AP) No matter how this season ends for the Baltimore Orioles, Gunnar Henderson and the rest of their young players are experiencing meaningful games.
''This is going to be really beneficial for them going forward into next year,'' manager Brandon Hyde said. ''Being able to be in a tight ballgame in a pennant race against the Red Sox, that's only going to be helpful going forward.''
Henderson hit a bases-loaded single in the sixth inning to cap a big Baltimore rally, and the Orioles beat Boston 3-2 on Friday night. It was a much-needed victory for the O's, who lost three of four to Toronto in their previous series to fall 4 1/2 games back in the playoff race.
The win Friday helped Baltimore move within four games of Seattle for the final American League wild card.
Baltimore trailed 2-0 after Xander Bogaerts hit a two-run homer in the third, but came back with three runs in the sixth. Henderson's hit brought in two and gave the Orioles the lead.
''Him, Adley (Rutschman) - all these guys that are coming up it seems like - they're not scared of the spotlight,'' starting pitcher Austin Voth said. ''They're helping us out.''
Jake Reed (1-0) got the win as the second of five Baltimore relievers who shut out Boston for five innings. The Orioles did not use closer Felix Bautista, instead relying on Dillon Tate for the final four outs. Tate earned his fourth save.
Hyde said he was giving Bautista an extra day off because of arm fatigue, but he's hopeful the big right-hander will be available Saturday.
Brayan Bello (1-5) took a shutout into the sixth for a second straight start, but his wildness caught up to him, and reliever Kaleb Ort couldn't hold the lead.
Bello pitched around a couple of walks in the fifth, but with one out in the sixth, Cedric Mullins singled and the next two hitters walked.
''His stuff was really good, but at the same time he's learning,'' Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. ''We didn't throw strikes there in that inning, and we paid the price.''
Ort relieved Bello and threw a wild pitch to bring home a run. After a walk to Ryan Mountcastle re-loaded the bases, Henderson - one of Baltimore's celebrated rookies - singled through the hole into right field.
Bello blanked Texas for six innings last weekend, and although he was charged with the three sixth-inning runs against the Orioles, he allowed only three hits and struck out seven.
Voth permitted two runs and five hits in four-plus innings. Bogaerts homered to right to open the scoring.
Mullins had three singles, although he was thrown out at second after the first two - once trying to steal and once trying to stretch his hit into a double.
AT THE TOP
Bogaerts had three hits to raise his AL-leading batting average to .318.
OUT OF TOWN
Yes, Hyde says, the Orioles are scoreboard watching a bit while chasing a postseason spot.
''At this point, yeah, you watch. You see what other teams around you are doing,'' Hyde said. ''That's the fun part about it. Most of our guys, like I've said a lot, experiencing this for the first time, so it's fun.''
The news hasn't been very good for the Orioles lately, and that continued Friday with Tampa Bay and Toronto both winning. Seattle lost to Atlanta, though.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Red Sox: RHP Nathan Eovaldi (shoulder) is expected to play catch Saturday and throw a bullpen Sunday.
UP NEXT
The Orioles are hoping RHP Jordan Lyles (10-9) will be able to pitch Saturday. He was scratched from his start Monday because he was feeling sick. Michael Wacha (10-1) takes the mound for Boston.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 10, 2022 3:56:53 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox rookie Brayan Bello records 17 swings-and-misses, 7 Ks but losses command late in loss to Orioles
Updated: Sep. 09, 2022, 10:57 p.m.|Published: Sep. 09, 2022, 10:38 p.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
Red Sox rookie Brayan Bello dominated the first four innings, facing the minimum 12 batters. But he began to lose his command in the fifth inning, then lost the lead to the Orioles in the sixth.
Bello left with one out and the bases loaded in the sixth after allowing a single and two walks. Kaleb Ort replaced him and allowed all three inherited runners to score as a 2-0 Red Sox lead turned into a 3-2 deficit.
Baltimore won 3-2 at Camden Yards on Friday.
The Red Sox dropped to 18-40 against AL East teams.
Bello allowed three runs, three hits and four walks while striking out seven in 5 ⅓ innings. He recorded 17 swings-and-misses, including nine with his changeup and five with his slider.
He struck out the side in order during an absolutely dominant third inning when his changeup was dancing. All three strikeouts (all swinging) came on changeups. He threw five changeups in the third, recording four swings-and-misses with it.
The righty began to lose his command in the fifth inning when he walked Gunnar Henderson and Ramon Urias on eight straight balls. But he escaped with some help from Rougned Odor who swung at a pitch out of the zone while ahead 1-0 in the count and popped out to Xander Bogaerts.
Bello then struck out Austin Hays swinging to end the frame.
He struck out Kyle Stowers swinging to begin the bottom of the sixth. But he then allowed a single to Cedric Mullins and walks to Adley Rutschman and Anthony Santander.
Ort entered with the bases loaded and threw a wild pitch that scored Mullins, then allowed a two-run single to Henderson.
Bogaerts homers
Xander Bogaerts put the Red Sox ahead 2-0 in the third when he belted a 379-foot two-run homer to right-center field.
Connor Wong, who scored on Bogaerts’ homer, led off the third with a 396-foot, 109.4-mph double off the center field wall.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 10, 2022 3:59:17 GMT -5
Bogaerts making final push for 1st batting title 1:53 AM ADT Joe Trezza
Joe Trezza @joetrezz
BALTIMORE -- Xander Bogaerts is finishing the season on a tear, and it may result in a milestone achievement for the Red Sox's All-Star shortstop.
Taken a peek at the American League batting race lately? If the season ended Friday night, the AL batting title would go to Bogaerts, who continued marching toward his first career batting crown in Boston’s 3-2 loss to the Orioles at Camden Yards. Back in the lineup after missing one game with back spasms, Bogaerts homered and singled twice in support of a strong, but front-loaded Brayan Bello start. He’s now hitting .318, thanks in large part to a sizzling September.
“Now he's locked in,” manager Alex Cora said. “He's getting pitches to hit and he's not missing them.”
With the Red Sox not eliminated but realistically fading from the postseason picture, whether or not Bogaerts can claim his first career batting crown will be a prominent storyline down the stretch. The competition is steep, but Bogaerts has a real shot, building Friday on his slight edge over Twins infielder Luis Arraez (.313) and White Sox slugger Jose Abreu (.308) with 23 games to go. The 4-time All-Star has finished in the top-10 in the AL in hitting four times and as high as second back in 2015, when he hit a career-best .320.
If he can keep this up for a few more weeks, he can become Boston’s first batting champ since Mookie Betts in 2018.
“The home run was a good swing, going the other way,” Cora said. “That's the difference between him now and when we were here the last time [in mid-August]. Last time, he wasn't able to stay on pitches to drive them to right field. He was just getting singles.”
To Cora’s point, the power has been more sporadic this year than in the past for Bogaerts, who is on pace for his lowest home run total in a full season since 2017. But he’s been a hit machine all season long. The super consistent Bogaerts ranked third among qualified AL hitters in average at the end of April, third through June and fourth at the All-Star break. Now he’s red-hot again after breaking out of that mid-August slump, having recorded multiple hits in 10 of his last 11 games and hitting .458 (27-for-59) over his past 15.
Bogaerts has pulled his average up 21 points from .298 on Aug. 23 -- his lowest season average since April -- and is also knotted in a three-way tie with teammates Rafael Devers and J.D. Martinez for second in the AL in doubles (37). He’s been a bright spot in a Red Sox lineup weathering down years from Martinez, Trevor Story and Enrique Hernández.
Boston went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position Friday night coming off a shutout loss Wednesday in Tampa. The Red Sox have lost four straight, three in one-run games.
“It's been frustrating from that aspect,” Cora said. “That's how I've been saying all along: I know where we are record-wise and we're far from all these teams, but if you look at the season … we've missed a lot of opportunities. That’s why we are where we are.”
When the Red Sox look forward to 2023, one of the biggest questions is whether Bogaerts will be part of the team, since he is widely expected to opt out of the final three years remaining on his current deal. Until then, the longtime Red Sox player continues climbing significant franchise leaderboards. His third-inning two-run homer Friday pulled Bogaerts into a tie with George Scott (154) for 16th on the franchise’s all-time home run list. Next up are Carlton Fisk and Tony Conigliaro, with 162.
Additionally, Martinez recorded his 1,500th career hit Friday before the Orioles rallied off Bello and Boston’s bullpen in the sixth. Through five innings, Bello (the club’s No. 3 prospect per MLB Pipeline) held the Orioles to three hits -- all to Cedric Mullins -- before unraveling in the sixth. The 23-year-old righty struck out seven but walked four of his last eight batters, and also benefited from an outstanding Alex Verdugo assist in the fourth.
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The Red Sox have now lost six of Bello’s first seven starts. He’s allowed 22 earned runs in 32 1/3 innings (6.12 ERA) in those outings. His next start is set for next week against the Yankees at Fenway Park.
“I was trying to throw strikes, but the ball wasn’t going where I wanted it to go, so it’s unfortunate,” Bello said through an interpreter. “I’ve been working really hard to work on my pitches and be aggressive.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 10, 2022 4:01:44 GMT -5
Injuries & Moves: Hosmer's return (back) questionable September 9th, 2022
Keep track of the Red Sox’s recent transactions and injury updates throughout the season. LATEST NEWS
Sept. 9: SS Xander Bogaerts returns to lineup Fresh off winning AL Player of the Week honors, Bogaerts had to exit Tuesday's 8-4 loss in the bottom of the seventh inning with back spasms. Manager Alex Cora rested him on Wednesday, and the Red Sox had a team off-day on Thursday. Bogaerts returned to the lineup for Friday night's opener of a three-game series in Baltimore, batting third and playing shortstop.
1B Eric Hosmer (low back inflammation) Expected return: Possibly 2023 Hosmer continues to suffer lingering pain in his back, and plans to have him start a rehab assignment have been put on hold. He has yet to resume baseball activity, and Cora suggested on Sept. 9 that time was running out for Hosmer to return this season. But a final decision hasn’t been made yet on whether he will or won’t.
“I mean, he hasn't done much baseball-wise the last few days,” Cora said. “We tried to, and he was almost there to go into rehab assignment at one point. And then he felt it, so we stopped him, and he hasn't done much in that area. So, we'll see. We’re running out of days. The hope for everybody is for them to play. That's what we try to do, not only for the player, but for the organization. But we'll see. We’re kind of running out of time.”
Hosmer has been on the injured list since Aug. 22. (Last updated: Sept. 9)
RHP Nathan Eovaldi (right shoulder inflammation) Expected return: Late September Eovaldi took an important step forward when he threw another bullpen session on Sept. 7 at Tropicana Field, and is scheduled for another bullpen on Sept. 11. The Red Sox think Eovaldi will pitch again this season, but manager Alex Cora said he will need to go on a Minor League rehab assignment first.
"Yeah, now we wait and see how he feels," Cora said. "He played catch [on Sept. 6]. He’s feeling good. He feels like extension is getting there, so just be patient with him and see what we can do." (Last updated: Sept. 9)
RHP Kutter Crawford (right shoulder impingement) Expected return: Late September Crawford was scratched from his start on Sept. 4, and he was subsequently placed on the IL, retroactive to Sept. 1. The right-hander has gone 3-6 with a 5.47 ERA in 21 games, including 12 starts.
The Red Sox were hopeful Crawford could return by next weekend’s series against Kansas City at Fenway Park, but that timeline has been delayed.
“He’s playing catch but hasn’t thrown a bullpen,” Cora said. “We were thinking the Kansas City series, but now probably not. Slower than we thought it would be. It’s nothing serious, but that’s where we’re at.” (Last updated: Sept. 9)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 10, 2022 4:04:41 GMT -5
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne · 7h The sense of inevitability that a slight lead won't be held in the mid innings unless the Red Sox go to one or two specific relievers is like nothing I've seen in my 21 years covering this team.
Much more surprising than the latest blown lead by the bullpen is the depth of this slump Rafael Devers is in
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