G130: Orioles 2, Red Sox 1

Orioles - 200 000 000 - 2  6  0
Red Sox - 000 001 000 - 1  8  0

Okay, maybe we should start panicking a little bit...

The Red Sox banged out eight hits (including four doubles) and drew eight walks, but could do nothing more than one measly run. The squanderific totals for Sunday afternoon: 1-for-13 with RATS and 13 men left on base. In the three games against the Orioles, Boston went 1-for-23 with RATS. The Red Sox - who saw their AL East lead drop to 2.5 games - have scored only four runs in their last three games.

Where did the Red Sox leave their 13 baserunners?

1st:  -  2  3
2nd:  -  2  -
3rd:  1  -  3
4th:  -  -  -  (Had runner caught stealing)
5th:  1  2  3
6th:  1  2  3
7th:  -  -  3  (GIDP ended inning)
8th:  -  2  -
9th:  -  -  -

Doug Fister (7-5-2-2-7, 106) pitched well, but a couple of missteps in the first inning spelled doom for the man they call "Fist" and his teammates. Tim Beckham led off the game with a single and two outs later, he was on second base. Fister balked him to third and gave up back-to-back doubles to Adam Jones and Trey Mancini. The Red Sox had not even come to the plate yet, but those two runs would be enough for Baltimore.

Boston's frustration began in the opening inning (and lasted all afternoon). With one out, Andrew Benintendi singled and Mookie Betts doubled. With two men on, Hanley Ramirez struck out and Chris Young popped to third.

Rafael Devers doubled with two outs in the second and was stranded as Sandy Leon grounded to third.

Young left men at first and third when he fanned to end the third.

Rajai Davis singled with one out in the fourth, but was promptly thrown out trying to steal second.

The Red Sox came up empty in the fifth even though they had runners at first and second with one out and the bases loaded with two outs. Young ended the inning with a fly out to right. He stranded seven runners in the game, five at either second or third.

Xander Bogaerts led off the sixth with a double. One out later, Devers brought him in with a double of his own, cutting the Orioles' lead to 2-1. Leon walked and after Eduardo Nunez struck out, Benintendi walked, loading the bases. Miguel Castro threw six pitches to Betts and he did not swing at any of them, and was called out on strikes (ccbbbc).

The Red Sox threatened in the seventh. Ramirez and Mitch Moreland (batting for Young) both walked with none out. But Bogaerts grounded into a fielder's choice and Davis grounded into a double play.

Leon walked with one out in the eighth and Brock Holt pinch-ran. After Nunez flied to right, Holt took second on a wild pitch, but Benintendi also flied to right.

There was no tease in the ninth, as Brad Brach retired Betts (4-3), Ramirez (F8), and Moreland (3-1).

The Red Sox will play three games in Toronto beginning tomorrow night before heading to New York for a very important four-game series against the Yankees.

AL East: The Yankees scored six runs in the first inning (aided by five Mariners errors! in one inning!) and beat Seattle 10-1. Boston's lead is now 2.5 games.

Wade Miley / Doug Fister

Nunez, 2B
Benintendi, LF
Betts, RF
Ramirez, 1B
Young, DH
Bogaerts, SS
Davis, CF
Devers, 3B
Leon, C

Doug Fister's nickname on the back of his jersey this weekend is "Fist".

Yesterday: Dustin Pedroia took batting practice for the first time in two weeks. ... David Price long-tossed 120 feet off flat ground for a second consecutive day.

Jackie Bradley is wearing a smaller splint on his sprained left thumb and could be back sooner than expected. John Farrell: "Yesterday was a good day for him in terms of getting past some of the soreness and the swelling, the initiating of strengthening routine and the rehab. He was really encouraged ..."

Rafael Devers has cooled off, going 2-for-27 (.074) in his last seven games.

AL East: The Yankees are 3.5 GB; SEA/MFY.