“We had so many quality at-bats”, said Red Sox manager John Farrell.
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Andrew Benintendi lined a tiebreaking single in the fifth, Hanley Ramirez added a solo homer, and David Price threw seven solid innings as the Boston Red Sox completed a four-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles with a 5-3 victory Thursday night.
It was the first time since 2002 that the Orioles were swept at home by Boston in a four-game series. Jesus Sucre went 3-for-3 with a run scored to help the Mariners get within two games of Baltimore for the final AL wild-card berth.
It’s now a seven-game winning streak for the Boston Red Sox, and a magic number of six for winning the American League East title.
Evan Gattis blasted a pair of home runs in a win over the A’s to keep Houston tied with the Tigers at one game back of the second wildcard.
But the Orioles rarely threatened before or after that. “It wasn’t good. Command was bad and I was never able to find it”, said Tillman, who allowed three runs on five hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
Koji Uehara pitched a hitless eighth and Craig Kimbrel earned his 29th save in the ninth with a ideal inning.
He has a 2.93 ERA in his last 12 starts, dating back to July 28, and he has a 3.25 ERA in more than 175 innings pitched since May 12. After Ortiz walked to score Leon, Vance Worley relieved Tillman who allowed three runs on five hits in 1 2/3 innings, walking three.
– With all due respect to MVP candidates David Ortiz and Mookie Betts, the Red Sox’s hottest hitter is at first base.
The Orioles honored Ortiz with a video featuring his famous home runs against the New York Yankees – something both Boston and Baltimore fans could cheer for.
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The only blemish on Anderson’s record was a solo home run by Francisco Cervelli in the fifth inning – his first since September 30 of last season. His was an opportunistic blast, coming off Donnie Hart, a sidearming lefty specialist facing him only because he was hitting between Ortiz, Shaw and Jackie Bradley Jr. The 24-year-old prospect hit his second home run in as many Major League Baseball starts Thursday, putting him in a class all by himself in Orioles history. RHP Yovani Gallardo and LHP Wade Miley will start the first two games of the series.
