Game 69: Red Sox at Orioles - Bounce back in Baltimore
Contributing Writer
Here’s to the trend of Boston sports teams playing into the wee hours of the morning ending tonight. Oh, and let’s add a mark in the win column too.
A night after the Boston Bruins lost in triple OT to Chicago in the Stanley Cup Finals, the Boston Red Sox (41-27) fell in 13 innings to the Baltimore Orioles (38-29), moving the Os to within 2.5 games back of the first-place Sox. The weight falls on Ryan Dempster’s shoulders, as he takes the mound for Boston. Dempster is 4-6 with a 4.40 ERA this season and is 2-0 in his last three starts, all quality starts, with a 3.60 ERA.
Here is the Red Sox lineup for tonight’s game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards (First pitch – 7:05 pm EDT):
1. Ellsbury, CF
2. Victorino, RF
3. Pedroia, 2B
4. Ortiz, DH
5. Carp, 1B
6. Nava, LF
7. Iglesias, SS
8. Middlebrooks, 3B
9. Ross, C
Dempster, P
The Orioles will send righty Chris Tillman to the mound. Tillman has been solid all season, posting a 6-2 record with a 3.89 ERA. He was 9-3 with a 2.93 ERA a year ago.
Lots of movement
Prior to tonight’s game, the Red Sox announced a mass of changes to their roster. Pedro Ciriaco was traded to the San Diego Padres for a player to be named later or cash. Pitcher Rubby De La Rosa was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket and Alex Wilson was optioned back to the PawSox. Lastly, Mike Napoli is still out with an illness and Stephen Drew will be out of the lineup, as he is 4 for his last 30. Jose Iglesias gets the start at shortstop. He is batting .449 with a home run and seven RBIs in 24 games.
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