Boston @ Baltimore preview
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Last Meeting ( Mar 31, 2014 ) Boston 1, Baltimore 2
The Baltimore Orioles can use as many wins as possible against direct competition in the American League East as they attempt to return to the playoffs. The Orioles look to clinch a season-opening series against the division-rival Boston Red Sox when they host the second game of the series on Wednesday. Offseason acquisition Nelson Cruz played the hero on Opening Day with a go-ahead homer as Baltimore took a 2-1 win.
The Red Sox already invited some second guessing when rookie Jackie Bradley Jr. was left in to hit with the go-ahead run on base in the ninth instead of bringing in Jonny Gomes in that spot. Bradley, who was added to the roster at the last minute when Shane Victorino (hamstring) was placed on the 15-day disabled list, struck out to end the game. The most impressive thing about the Orioles was the ability of the pitchers to continually work out of jams in the one-run triumph.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), MASN (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH John Lackey (2013: 10-13, 3.52 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Ubaldo Jimenez (2013: 13-9, 3.30)
Lackey came back from Tommy John surgery in 2013 and looked like an entirely different pitcher from the one who posted a 6.41 ERA in 2011. The 35-year-old was brought along slowly in the spring after posting a 2.77 ERA in 26 innings during the run to the World Series. Lackey tossed a complete-game two-hitter against the Orioles on Sept. 19 and went 2-1 in four starts against the division rivals last season.
One of the reasons for high hopes in Baltimore is the presence of Jimenez, who signed as a free agent late in the winter and provides another veteran starter with the potential to dominate. The Dominican came on in the second half for the Cleveland Indians last season, posting a 6-5 record with a 1.82 ERA after the All-Star break. Jimenez was lit up in his lone start against Boston last season, allowing seven runs on seven hits while recording just five outs on April 16.
WALK-OFFS
1. Gomes is 5-for-12 with a pair of home runs off Jimenez in his career.
2. Baltimore RHP Tommy Hunter got the first chance to close and locked up the save Monday.
3. Boston CF Grady Sizemore homered in the opener - his first major-league game since September 2011.
PREDICTION: Red Sox 6, Orioles 4