Final, Orioles 7-3: Tim Berry makes quick work of the Red Sox in the ninth, and the Baltimore Orioles coast to a 7-3 victory.
The Orioles erupted in the sixth inning for four runs en route to their win in the first of two games between the teams on Saturday.
The teams split squads, with the Orioles producing a lineup close to what they might have on the field for Opening Day in game one. The Red Sox will have most of their prospective starting lineup available for game two.
Red Sox starting pitcher Henry Owens struggled through 2 1/3 innings of work, and the pitching struggles continued when Alex Wilson ran into trouble in the sixth inning, highlighted by Alex Gonzalez’s two-run homer that started off the Orioles big inning.
Bryce Brentz was a bright spot for the Red Sox in the first game. He tallied a couple of hits — including a home run that scored two of Boston’s three runs. It’s his third home run of spring training.
The teams head from Sarasota to Fort Myers for the evening game. It starts at 7:05 p.m.
End 8th, Orioles 7-3: The Baltimore Orioles go quietly in the bottom of the eighth.
Noe Ramirez takes over on the mound for the Red Sox, trading an out for a base hit against the first two batters he faces.
Ivan DeJesus Jr. drives a fly ball into right field for the Orioles’ second out. Julio Borbon hits one to second base for an easy final out, and the Red Sox head to the top of the ninth inning still trailing 7-3.
Mid 8th, Orioles 7-3: The Red Sox can’t manage to find a base hit in their half of the eighth inning.
Tim Berry comes in to pitch for the Orioles, as Eduardo Rodriguez’s day is done. Mookie Betts steps in for the Red Sox and hits a sharp line drive to left field, but Julio Borbon is positioned perfectly to make the catch for the first out of the eighth inning.
Blake Swihart then lifts an innocent fly ball to shallow center field, and the Red Sox first two batters are quickly retired.
Berry strikes out the last batter he faces and just like that it’s the Orioles’ turn as the teams head to the bottom of the eighth.
End 7th, Orioles 7-3: While Joe Torre visits Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy in the broadcasting booth, Jose Mijares takes care of business for the Red Sox.
The Orioles’ Cord Phelps hits an easy grounder to second base as Mijares retires the first batter in the bottom of the seventh, but Brian Ward reaches first on a single to left field.
A pop-up to right field makes for an easy second out, and an equally routine fly-out wraps up a quick seventh inning.
Mid 7th, Orioles 7-3: The Red Sox get two back after a deep home run from Bryce Brentz.
Eduardo Rodriguez starts where he left off last inning for the Orioles in the beginning of the seventh, striking out Travis Shaw for the first out. Ryan Lavarnway makes solid contact on a drive into left field that falls for a single. Lavarnway is replaced at first by Shannon Wilkerson.
Bryce Brentz’s second hit of the day helps the Red Sox get back in it — his two-run homer flies high over the fence in left field.
Brock Holt gets the Sox third straight hit against Rodriguez by roping one down the left field line, but Jackie Bradley Jr. strikes out against Rodriguez, ending the inning with Holt still on base.
End 6th, Orioles 7-1: An ugly inning for Alex Wilson helps the Orioles extend their lead.
With Wilson now on the mound for the Red Sox, Matt Wieters plops a leadoff single into right field before being taken out for the day. Alex Gonzalez follows the single with a deep home run to left field. The Orioles now lead 5-1.
Jonathan Schoop then hits a grounder right back at Wilson, careening off his ankle and leaving no play for the Red Sox infield. After an error is charged to Wilson on a pickoff throw that gets by Mike Carp and allows Schoop to advance to second base, Orioles batter Christian Walker hits a line drive along the right field line to score Schoop. Walker reaches third on the play.
A hot shot gets through Carp at first and the Orioles continue to build their lead as Walker touches home plate for the O’s sixth run of the day.
A broken bat flair from Quentin Berry produces the first out of the inning, and Wilson strikes out Ivan DeJesus Jr. with a slider for out number two. Wilson’s day ends after surrendering another single for another run and giving the Orioles men on first and third with two outs.
Jose Mijares replaces Wilson and faces Jack Cust, who flies out to right field to finally end a rough sixth inning for the Sox.
Mid 6th, Orioles 3-1: The Red Sox put men on first and second with just one out, but couldn’t bring either of them home.
Henry Ramos starts things off by reaching on an infield single, thanks to an error by the shortstop. Jackie Bradley Jr. is caught looking at an 0-2 fastball for the Orioles seventh strikeout. Bradley is 0-3 so far today.
Deven Marrero turns in a solid at-bat in a battle with new Orioles pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez and earns a one-out walk. Mike Carp steps in with runners on first and second, but Rodriguez is able to fool him with a 1-2 fastball for the second out of the inning and his second strikeout.
Will Middlebrooks looks to produce some more runs for the Sox, but his fly ball to center field falls right to Quentin Berry, and the Sox strand two in the inning.
End 5th, Orioles 3-1: The new rule to avoid home plate collisions comes into effect during this half-inning.
J.J. Hardy draws a leadoff walk from Tommy Layne, but Chris Davis lifts a pop-up to Will Middlebrooks in foul ground for the first out. Middlebrooks has been busy at third base so far today. Hardy then takes second base on an Adam Jones grounder that Layne handles from the mound.
Former Red Sox Quentin Berry is put in to pinch run for Hardy at second base. Layne then walks Neslon Cruz, who is also pinch run for.
Delmon Young rips a short liner into left field, which Henry Ramos handles well. Ramos’ throw to the plate is in time to catch Berry for the final out after Ryan Lavarnway applies the tag.
Mid 5th, Orioles 3-1: The Red Sox are battling at the plate, but can’t seem to find success against any of the Orioles pitchers so far.
Darren O’Day takes the mound for the Orioles after an inning of work from Tommy Hunter and gets Ryan Lavarnway to ground out. Bryce Bentz battles with O’Day but strikes out swinging. That’s the sixth strikeout for Orioles pitching today.
Brock Holt steps in next and hits a grounder down the first base line. Chris Davis easily handles it and touches the first base bag to retire Holt for the final out in the top of the fifth.
End 4th, Orioles 3-1: The Orioles are unable to produce a base hit and go down in order in the fourth.
Alex Gonzalez starts the inning with a bloop to shallow right that Bryce Brentz is able to run down for a quick first out.
Matty Ott then gets Jonathan Schoop to line out to left field before the Red Sox switch pitchers again, bringing in lefty Tommy Layne, who strikes out Nick Markakis to end the fourth inning.
Mid 4th, Orioles 3-1: A Will Middlebrooks home run puts the Red Sox on the board after three and a half innings.
Tommy Hunter replaces Bud Norris for the Orioles and starts strong, blowing a fastball by Deven Marrero for the first out of the fourth inning. Mike Carp then tries to place one in right field, but Nick Markakis runs it down and the Red Sox quickly surrender the first two outs of the inning.
Middlebrooks is able to get the Sox offense started when he crushes a Hunter offering over the right field fence for a solo home run.
Ryan Lavarnway drives a fly ball into right field, but Markakis handles it for the final out in the top of the fourth.
End 3rd, Orioles 3-0 : In his third inning of work, Henry Owens surrenders two doubles and two walks before retiring a batter and the Orioles capitalize for two more runs.
Nick Markakis lifts one into right field near the foul ball line for a double, and J.J. Hardy follows up with almost an identical hit to plate Markakis and build the Orioles lead to 2-0. Chris Davis and Owens battle to a full count, and Davis heads to first base after Owens gives up his first walk of the day.
With two on and nobody out, Adam Jones steps to the plate and takes the second consecutive walk from Owens to load the bases. With his pitch count approaching 50, The Sox start action in their bullpen. Nelson Cruz chops one to Will Middlebrooks at 3rd base and the Sox get the force out at home but are unable turn the double play.
Owen’s day is over after he’s unable to work out of the bases loaded jam. Matty Ott takes over with the bases still loaded and one out. Delmon Young’s hit is snagged at third by a diving Middlebrooks, who gets the out at second, but again the Sox can’t turn two and another run scores, building the Orioles lead to 3-0.
Finally, a busy Middlebrooks steps under a foul ball to end the inning.
Mid 3rd, Orioles 1-0: The Red Sox put their leadoff man on base for the second straight inning, but Bud Norris strikes out two more as the Sox are unable to advance the runner.
Bryce Brentz gets to first on a grounder into right field on the Red Sox’s second hit of the game, but Brock Holt falls victim to a cut-fastball and strikes out swinging. It’s Norris’ third of the day and the first out of the third inning.
Henry Ramos strikes out looking, and its two consecutive strikeouts for Norris. Jackie Bradley Jr. steps in and snaps a sharp liner to first, which Chris Davis handles to retire the Red Sox in the top half of the third.
The Orioles will have the top of their lineup batting in the bottom of the third inning.
End 2nd, Orioles 1-0: A lead-off double helps the Orioles jump ahead after two innings from Sarasota.
Nelson Cruz hits a line drive down the left field line for a lead-off double. Delmon Young lifts a pop-up into shallow right field which Brock Holt drifts under for the first out of the inning.
Owens has Orioles catcher Matt Wieters down in the count 0-2 and after a curveball misses high, but Wieters rips an Owen’s pitch into right center which brings home Cruz, giving the Orioles a 1-0 lead.
Alex Gonzalez lofts an Owens offering behind the plate that Lavarnway handles for out number two. Owens then strikes out Jonathan Schoop to avoid any further damage in the inning.
Mid 2nd, 0-0: Not much offense after one and a half innings.
Will Middlebrooks hits a liner to left-center field for a single and is the Red Sox first baserunnerof the game, but he’s cancelled out when Travis Shaw offers at the first pitch and the Orioles turn a 5-4-3 double play to get both Middlebrooks and Shaw.
Ryan Lavarnway lifts a fly ball into the outfield for the Red Sox third out, and again the Sox go down in order.
End 1st, 0-0: Henry Owens works around Chris Davis’ two-out single to keep the game scoreless after one inning.
Owens gets a one-pitch out to retire Nick Markakis and then J.J. Hardy chops one to second base, which Brock Holt handles for the second out. Baltimore Orioles slugger Chris Davis sharply lines Owens’ first pitch through the gap between first and second for a two-out single.
Adam Jones hits a fly ball to center field, which Jackie Bradley Jr. handles and that ends the first inning.
Mid 1st, 0-0: The Red Sox go down 1-2-3 in the top half of the first inning.
Jackie Bradley Jr. gives a 2-0 pitch a ride to left field but Nelson Cruz gloves it right before the warning track for the first out.
Bud Norris strikes out Deven Marrero with a rising fastball for the second out of the inning. Mike Carp strikes out looking and Norris gets back-to-back strikeouts as the Sox go down in order.
1:07 p.m.: Bud Norris’ first pitch to Jackie Bradley Jr. is a ball and we’re underway from Ed Smith Stadium.
12:49 p.m.: Baltimore Orioles players wore orange “Lungevity” T-shirts while on the field earlier. The shirts honor Monica Pence Barlow, who was the Orioles public relations director, who lost her battle with lung cancer this February at the age of 36.
Barlow was diagnosed in 2009 and became a popular public speaker for the LUNGevity Foundation. Her upbeat attitude and devotion to helping the fight against lung cancer made her a prominent figure in the Orioles organization and outside of it as well.
11:00 a.m. ET: The Boston Red Sox look to improve their 2-5 spring training record and tally their second win against Baltimore as they head to Sarasota to take on the Orioles in the first of two games on Saturday. The Red Sox have a split squad, and game two will be played back in Fort Myers at JetBlue Park at 7:05 p.m..
The two teams last met on Sunday, with the Red Sox managing to escape with an 8-6 win after a five-run, ninth inning rally by the Orioles fell short.
In his two innings of work so far this spring training, Owens has a 4.50 earned run average and two strikeouts. Owens is one of the Red Sox best pitching prospects at just 21 years old. The six-foot-seven lefty has a variety of pitches at his disposal, including a looping curveball.
Sox fans will notice a familiar face in the infield for the Baltimore Orioles as Alex Gonzalez gets the start for the first game today.
Catch the game on NESN starting at 1:05 p.m. and check out each team’s complete lineups below.
Boston Red Sox
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Deven Marrero, SS
Mike Carp, 1B
Will Middlebrooks, 3B
Travis Shaw, DH
Ryan Lavarnway, C
Bryce Brentz, RF
Brock Holt, 2B
Henry Ramos, LF
Henry Owens, LHP
Baltimore Orioles
Nick Markakis, RF
J.J. Hardy, SS
Chris Davis, 1B
Adam Jones, CF
Nelson Cruz, LF
Delmon Young, DH
Matt Wieters, C
Alex Gonzalez, 3B
Jonathan Schoop, 2B
Bud Norris, RHP
