Baltimore @ Boston preview
Fenway Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 21, 2010 ) Baltimore 9, Boston 1
The pitch count cost the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday.
Their defense didn't help much either.
The slumping Red Sox try to avert a three-game sweep at the hands of the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park on Wednesday night. Boston has lost four of its last five games at home and is 6 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay in the wild card standings with 11 games to play.
Ty Wigginton led the Orioles to a 9-1 win Tuesday. Wigginton hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning to break open a tie game. His 21st homer made a winner out of Brad Bergesen (8-12). Scott Atchison (2-3) took the loss, recording just one out while allowing three runs in the seventh inning.
Boston appeared in control of the contest, leading 1-0 with Clay Buchholz on the mound. Buchholz, second in the American League in ERA, was once again sailing along until the sixth inning. After he struck out the first two batters of inning Buchholz allowed a single to Adam Jones.
Buchholz then got Felix Pie to pop to second base but Marco Scutaro dropped the ball and Jones scored all the way from first base. Buchholz left after the inning after throwing 113 pitches. He allowed just four hits while striking out five and lowered his ERA to 2.40.
The Boston bullpen then blew it by allowing eight run in three innings.
While Boston’s defense let Buchholz down, Nick Markakis made a fine running catch in right field in the seventh inning of Tuesday’s game. The catch saved one run and possibly prevented a big inning for the Red Sox.
Kevin Millwood is scheduled to start for the Orioles. Rick VandenHurk, who was supposed to pitch in the series, might see action in relief or start over the weekend at Toronto.
Millwood has won just once since June 30.
John Lackey starts for the Red Sox. Lackey is 9-4 lifetime against the Orioles but Boston has lost his last three starts against Baltimore.
The Orioles might regain the services of infielder Julio Lugo for Wednesday. Lugo hasn't started a game since Sept. 4 but was cleared by a neurologist to return to the lineup after suffering from recurring headaches.
Second baseman Brian Roberts remained in Tuesday’s game after taking a ball off his shoulder at second base. He is questionable for today’s contest.
Baltimore holds a 9-8 advantage in the season series and continues to roll since handing over the managerial duties to Buck Showalter. The Red Sox have lost nine of their last 12 games at Fenway Park.