Final: Orioles 6, Red Sox 1: Kevin Youkilis hit a deep home run in the bottom of the ninth, but that was it for the Red Sox as they dropped the series finale to the Orioles.
Jason Bergen, Will Ohman and Alredo Simon each recorded an out in the ninth to finish off the win for the Orioles.
Brian Matusz was the story today for the O's though going seven innings allowing only two hits while striking out eight.
Middle 9th, Orioles 6-0: J.D. Drew just reminded everyone why right field at Fenway Park can be pretty tricky during day games.
With two outs, Julio Lugo hit a fly ball that looked to be the third out of the inning, but Drew temporarily lost the ball in the sun and ended up dropping it, allowing Cesar Izturis to score.
Nick Markakis added insult to injury when he hit an RBI single through the right side to push the Orioles lead to six.
End 8th, Orioles 4-0: Brian Matusz is gone, but the results are still the same for the Red Sox offense.
Matusz' afternoon ended after seven shutout innings as he gave way to Jason Berken.
Berken picked right up where Matusz left off retiring the Red Sox in order in the bottom of the eigth and only needed six pitches to do so.
Middle 8th, Orioles 4-0: Much to his chagrin, John Lackey's afternoon ended in the top of the eighth.
Lackey was visibly upset after being lifted in favor of Dustin Richardson after what must have been a frustrating day.
Lackey got no run support and to make matters worse, a would-be double play was booted by Marco Scutaro in the eighth. That allowed Julio Lugo — pinch-running for Miguel Tejada who doubled — to score. Adam Jones followed with a sacrifice fly that ended up chasing Lackey.
The Red Sox have their work cut out for them heading to the bottom of the eighth, trailing by four.
End 7th, Orioles 2-0: The bad news is Brian Matusz just
completed another 1-2-3 inning. The good news though is that he might
be finished for the afternoon.
Matusz just got Gustavo Molina to ground out to third base to end the seventh, but it came on Matusz' 111th pitch of the day.
Coming into today's start, Matusz' season-high was 117 pitches, so he may not be done for the day, especially with how he's pitched up to this point, but it's something to keep an eye on.
Middle 7th, Orioles 2-0: John Lackey gives up a two-out double
to Cesar Izturis, but is able to get Corey Patterson to ground out to
finish off another scoreless inning.
Roman Tynan came on to sing "God Bless America" during the seventh-inning stretch.
Tynan, of course, should be no stranger to Red Sox fans. He made a name for himself by singing "God Bless America" for years at Yankee Stadium.
Red Sox fans will have to hope that his elongated version of the patriotic tune can somehow ice Brian Matusz who's been practically unhittable this afternoon.
End 6th, Orioles 2-0: Brian Matusz is bringing it today.
He just got J.D. Drew to ground out to first to end the sixth inning. Matusz has been a handful all afternoon and is just making the Red Sox look very uncomfortable at the plate.
While his win-loss record may not show it, Matusz brings a lot of promise to a struggling organization and he's showing why today. Through six, he's only allowed two hits while striking out eight.
Middle 6th, Orioles 2-0: Again, it's really too bad that the Red
Sox have struggled so much today offensively, because John Lackey is
really on his game this afternoon.
Lackey just made quick work of the Orioles again with another 1-2-3 inning. He struck out Josh Bell for the third time today, this time on a breaking ball to pick up strikeout number seven.
End 5th, Orioles 2-0: Brian Matusz surrenders a lead-off walk to Daniel Nava, but he's able to work around it.
Matusz, like Lackey, has been working in the strike zone all afternoon. What's made Matusz real effective has been his ability to establish his secondary pitches. When he's needed a big pitch, he's gone to the change-up or the slider, and both have really heled him today.
After walking Nava, Matusz struck out Gustavo Molina on the slider, got Marcu Scutaro to pop up a change-up and got Darnell McDonald to line out to center on a change-up.
Middle 5th, Orioles 2-0: If the Red Sox can't get something going offensively, they're going to end up wasting a fine effort by John Lackey.
Lackey just finished off his third 1-2-3 inning of the afternoon and he continues to look sharp.
He's at 79 pitches through five innings, and 51 of those have been strikes.
End 4th, Orioles 2-0: The Red Sox threatened to get on the board in the fourth, but Brian Matusz stood strong and got out of a jam.
After a one-out walk to Kevin Youkilis, Adrian Beltre golfed a fastball for a double off of the Green Monster.
Unfortunately for the Red Sox though, Matusz struck out J.D. Drew for the second time this afternoon and then got Bill Hall to fly out on a 3-0 fastball.
The Red Sox have had their opportunities against Matusz, but they've left two men on in each of the last two innings.
Middle 4th, Orioles 2-0: The Orioles broke through in the fourth on their way to picking up a couple of runs.
Nick Markakis led off the fourth with a double to left, and then Ty Wigginton did his job, pushing a ground ball to the right side to move Markakis to third.
Markakis was able to score when a John Lackey wild pitch got by catcher Gustavo Molina.
Adam Jones singled with one out and then after Lackey struck out Josh Bell for the second out, Scott Moore hit an RBI single to right. Jones, who was running on the pitch, was able to score all the way from first to give the O's the 2-0 lead.
End 3rd, 0-0: Brian Matusz gave up a lead-off single to Bill
Hall and then hit Daniel Nava, but he was able to avoid any further
damage in the third.
Gustavo Molina tried to move the runners over, but his bunt attempt was popped up and Matusz jumped off the mound to snag it.
From there, Matusz took care of matters himself, striking out Marco Scutaro and then getting Darnell McDonald to ground out to third.
If Matusz keeps throwing his change-up for strikes like he has so far this afternoon, it's going to continue to be a long day for Red Sox hitters.
Middle 3rd, 0-0: The Orioles touch John Lackey up for a couple of hits, but the right-hander is able to work out of a minor two-out jam.
After retiring Scott Moore and Craig Tatum to open the third, Lackey surrendered hits to Cezar Izturis and Corey Patterson.
Patterson then stole second, but Lackey was able to get out of the inning when he got Miguel Tejada to ground out to short to end the inning.
End 2nd, 0-0: Brian Matusz matches John Lackey for the second straight inning by posting another zero.
Matusz sent the Sox down in order again retiring Kevin Youkilis, Adrian Beltre and J.D. Drew.
Matusz was able to get the red-hot Drew on a nasty breaking pitch to end the inning.
Middle 2nd, 0-0: John Lackey proved to be just as impressive in his second inning of work.
Lackey turned in another perfect inning, picking up two more strikeouts.
He's really going after Orioles hitters so far, pounding the strike zone with all of his pitches.
The O's have been swinging early in counts and Lackey is taking full advantage of that.
End 1st, 0-0: In his first inning of work, Brian Matusz showed why he has been touted as one of the game's best young pitching talents.
Matusz retired the side in order in the first, picking up two strike outs.
He picked up strikeouts of Marco Scutaro and David Ortiz, both on fastballs.
Middle 1st: So far, so good for John Lackey. The right-hander came out and attacked the strike zone in the first inning.
Lackey sent the Orioles down in order in the top of the first. Lackey's curveball looked sharp in the first, and he used it to record all three outs in the first frame.
If he continues to pound the zone like he did in the first, it could be a long day for the Orioles.
1:25 p.m.: We're just minutes away from this afternoon's first pitch at Fenway Park.
The Red Sox will be wearing their red jerseys this afternoon along with their white stars and stripes caps in honor of America's birthday.
1:20 p.m.: Just a couple of quick notes before this Fourth of July matinee gets going.
The Red Sox enter today's game with a 49-32 record. Coincidentally, this is the third straight season they've reached the halfway mark of the season with that same record.
If the Red Sox can take the finale of this three-game series this afternoon, it will mark win No. 900 for manager Terry Francona. With the win, Francona would join Tony LaRussa, Bobby Cox, Joe Torre, Lou Piniella, Jim Leyland, Dusty Baker, Bruce Bochy and Mike Scioscia as active members of the 900 club.
12:50 p.m.: While the Red Sox didn't have anyone voted to start to the All-Star Game, they will still be well represented.Shortly after the starting lineups were announced, the reserves were unveiled. Representing the Red Sox at the Midsummer Classic will be Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, Adrian Beltre, Dustin Pedroia and Victor Martinez.
Unable to play due to injury, Pedroia and Martinez will be replaced on the roster by Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler and Blue Jays catcher John Buck.
12:35 p.m.: The starting lineups have been announced for the
All-Star game and not surprisingly, there were no Red Sox. The rest of
the AL All-Star roster will be announced soon.
12:10 p.m.: It's an absolutely beautiful day in Boston as the Red Sox go for the sweep of the Orioles.
Here are today's starting lineups:
Red Sox
Marco Scutaro, SS
Darnell McDonald, CF
David Ortiz, DH
Kevin Youkilis, 1B
Adrian Beltre, 3B
J.D. Drew, RF
Bill Hall, 2B
Daniel Nava, LF
Gustavo Molina, C
Orioles
Corey Paterson, LF
Miguel Tejada, DH
Nick Markakis, RF
Ty Wigginton, 1B
Adam Jones, CF
Josh Bell, 3B
Scott Moore, 2B
Craig Tatum, C
Cesar Izturis, SS
10:00 a.m.: Happy Fourth of July, Red Sox fans!
On America's birthday, the Red Sox look to celebrate by breaking out the brooms and completing a three-game sweep of the Orioles. Friday night, it was Tim Wakefield, Saturday it was Jon Lester and this afternoon John Lackey toes the rubber looking to keep this nice little stretch of strong starting pitching going.
Lackey beat the Rays his last time out, going seven strong innings and only surrendering one earned run in one of his best starts of this season.
The Orioles will counter with talented young lefty Brian Matusz, who has struggled at times this year — especially as of late — and enters this afternoon's finale with a 3-9 record.
