Game 87: O's 4 Sox 10

Sox explode against a weak Orioles pitching staff, including back-to-back-to-back home runs in the 7th. Those came courtesy of Mr. Ortiz, Mr. Reddick, and Mr. Saltalamacchia. In fact the whole game seemed powered by the long ball. Pedroia started things with a three run shot in the 3rd. He continues to drive the ball with power. A-Gon hit a solo shot in the 5th and Ellsbury added a two run shot in the 6th. So six home runs representing 9 of the Red Sox 10 runs. It's not just chicks who dig the long ball...

On the bump, Miller again did just enough to win. Five innings, 3 earned runs of which 2 came in the first inning. He had no strikeouts (none) and walked 4 so the wildness continues to be a problem. This brings me to an issue I've been thinking about but have bitten my tongue as it sounds irrational. Watching the NESN broadcast, I swear, when Don Orsillo comments that someone or some team hasn't done something in the last x games/innings/years, that event that hasn't happened happens so afterwards. He'll say something like, Felix Pie hasn't hit a home run in 350 at bats and two pitches later he hits a home run. Fortunately he spreads these ominous facts around so they don't always hurt the Sox but in this game he did it again. He said something like Miller hasn't walked more than three batters in a game all year. Miller promptly walks the next batter to get to 4 for the game. Stop it Don! Stop it!

Anyway, Miller's been good enough as a 7th starter. Aceves ate up 2 innings and Atchison, called up as Lester hit the DL, gave up 1 run on 1 hit in 1 inning. Jenks pitched a clean fram to close it out.

Every sweep starts with win one. Josh F Beckett goes for win 2 next. Who cares who the Orioles send to the mound to counter.