There was an oddity, in Boston manager Alex Cora’s opinion, that he would like to see repeated when the Red Sox finish their three-game series with the host Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday evening.
The Red Sox evened the set by winning 8-3 on Tuesday night.
“Good energy,” Cora said. “I haven’t seen so many fans chanting for us in a while here.”
The Orioles would prefer that their fans have the most to cheer about. Baltimore is 18-11 in home games this year.
But the Red Sox have been stronger away from home than at Fenway Park, going 17-12 in road games and 11-15 at home.
“We came out swinging the bat well,” Cora said.
Each of the first five batters in Boston’s lineup had at least one RBI on Tuesday. Rafael Devers delivered four hits, and Cora generally liked the aggressive approach the Red Sox displayed.
“We used the whole personnel,” Boston’s manager said.
The Orioles, who stranded 10 runners, will try to bounce back after their five-game winning streak ended Tuesday.
Baltimore hadn’t given up as many as eight runs in a game since a 9-4 loss April 19 at Kansas City. That stretch included four games that went to at least the 10th inning.
On the flip side, it has been hot and cold for Boston’s batters. The Red Sox have reached at least the eight-run level three times in their last nine games.
Right-hander Corbin Burnes (4-2, 2.60 ERA) will be on the mound for the Orioles on Wednesday. The Baltimore ace has lasted at least six innings in all five May starts and in six consecutive appearances overall.
He tamed the Red Sox across a season-high seven innings April 9, holding host Boston to one run on two hits for the victory. He has had only one other career matchup vs. Boston, giving up three runs (two earned) in five innings while with the Milwaukee Brewers on April 23 of last season.
Boston has right-hander Kutter Crawford (2-3, 2.89 ERA) lined up as its starting pitcher Wednesday. He’s 0-2 across his last four starts, with the Red Sox losing each of those games.
His most recent outing lasted a season-low 4 1/3 innings Friday against the Brewers, who dinged him for six runs on seven hits.
One of his finest starts came with five shutout innings April 10 against the Orioles, who won 7-5. A glitch that day was a season-high four walks issued by Crawford.
Overall, he is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in four meetings with Baltimore.
The Orioles had scoring chances come up empty in Tuesday night’s game. They loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth and didn’t score. They stranded two runners in the ninth.
“Unfortunately, we just didn’t get the job done on that end,” outfielder Anthony Santander said. “We’re always focused on the game, and we never really give up until the final out.”
The Orioles have concerns about infielder Jordan Westburg, who was hit on the right hand/wrist by a sixth-inning pitch. The third baseman finished the game, but manager Brandon Hyde said he’ll be closely evaluated.
“A tender spot,” Hyde said. “We’re getting him checked out hoping he’s OK. Tough kid.”
–Field Level Media