The Red Sox offense went toe-to-toe with the Baltimore Orioles in a slugfest and Boston came away with a tight 12-10 win Friday night at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
The Red Sox improved their record to 64-57 while the Orioles dropped to 72-51.
Check out the full box score here.
ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
After scoring just one run in the series opener against the Orioles, it felt like the Red Sox were in for more of the same against Baltimore ace and Cy Young Award candidate Corbin Burnes.
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But the complete opposite happened.
The Red Sox torched Burnes unlike any team had this season. The right-hander hadn't allowed more than four earned runs in a game all season, but Boston roughed him up for eight runs over four innings. Half of those runs came in the fourth inning.
Boston's offense didn't slow down once it knocked Burnes from the contest and the Red Sox needed that. Baltimore responded at every turn and tagged bulk reliever Cooper Criswell -- the Red Sox went with a bullpen game -- for six runs in the middle innings and got to Luis García for three more runs to stay in the game.
But the Orioles couldn't slow down Boston's bats as the Red Sox always stayed a step or two ahead. Offense certainly hasn't been an issue recently for Boston but the same can't be said about the team's pitching. And it feels like this is the way the Red Sox have to win at the moment.
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STARS OF THE GAME
-- Jarren Duran broke out of his mini slump by reaching base four times from the leadoff spot. He went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, which carried 420 feet, in the top of the seventh to extend Boston's lead.
-- Masataka Yoshida's strong performance was highlighted by a three-run blast he belted in the top of the fourth -- it was one of four Red Sox homers on the night. Yoshida finished 3-for-4 with four RBIs.
-- David Hamilton, who went 2-for-4 with a walk and also recorded his 31st steal of the season, gave Boston the last bit of cushion they needed. Hamilton took former Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel deep with a two-run shot in the seventh. It was just Hamilton's second home run since late June.
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ON DECK AT NESN
The Red Sox will give the ball to Brayan Bello on Saturday as they continue to battle the Orioles. First pitch from Camden Yards is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET, and you can watch the game, plus an hour of pregame coverage, on NESN.
Featured image via Tommy Gilligan/USA TODAY Sports Images
