SOM Diary: Redsox at Orioles

So I do get to start the second round of three game series before the year ends (I wasn't sure how much progress I would make, but being on vacation sure helps find some time for rolling the dice). My season structure has all games in three game series so the scheduling is less complicated - I just realize that I haven't posted the replay season schedule yet, that's for a future post.

Without further ado here are the results of Boston's second series.

Orioles at Red SoxGame 1: BAL 7, BOS 5

060 000 001 7 12 0 7
010 001 003 5 7 1 2

The Orioles get one big inning off Doubront, scoring 6 runs in the second.Wei-Yin Chen cruises through eight innings, giving up only two runs incl. a solo homer to Gomes, striking out ten and walking only two. His attempt to go all the way falters in the ninth, though, where Napoli hits a three run homer after Pedroia reaches on a fielder's choice and Ortiz singles.

Johnson gets his first save of the season in two thirds of an inning with a single, a strikeout and a botched hit-and-run by Middlebrooks that makes Gomes easy pickings as he slides into second.

Game 2: BAL 4, BOS 5

400 000 000 4 8 0 4
112 010 00- 5 7 0 5

Boston gives up another big inning early, Lackey welcomes the Orioles with three singles, a double and a three run homer for Matt Wieters, who is obviously back in shape after starting the season with an injury.

However, this time the Redsox start to nibble back into the game immediately and finally take the lead with another Napoli solo homer in the fifth, and their bullpen takes it home with a solid setup inning from Bailey and save number three for Koji.

Game 3: BAL 5, BOS 6 - Bullpen bloopers

000 301 010 5 5 0 3
100 003 11- 6 13 2 8

Davis has a field day with two homers off the Boston ace John Lester. Both bullpens give up critical runs, the lead changes several times between runs conceded by McFarland in the seventh and eighth, and Tazawa in the eighth.

At the end the Redsox come out lucky despite two errors (a bad overthrow from the otherwise very agile Iglesias, and a Saltalamacchia throw into left field as Wieters tried to take third despite a swing-and-miss on a hit and run attempt by Adam Jones). Tazawa takes home the lucky "W" and Miller gets the save with a walk and three quick outs to end the game.