For the Orioles, their 4-2 win in Boston Friday night was the perfect example of a typical 2012 game: solid starting pitching, terrific relief work, and just enough offense to pull it out.
Miguel Gonzalez (W, 7-4) threw 6.1 innings, giving up both Red Sox runs on seven hits and a walk. Gonzalez struck out three, and threw 72 of his 101 pitches for strikes. The Sox did strike first, however, on an RBI double from Pedro Ciriaco.
The birds plated two in the fourth on a Matt Wieters single. The Sox rallied with three straight, two-out hits off of Gonzalez in the fifth, tying things at two.
Wieters added an RBI double down the left field line in the sixth, plating Adam Jones for a 3-2 O’s lead. An RBI single off Mark Reynolds’ bat followed, and the Orioles were up 4-2.
Darren O’Day was outstanding in relief, bridging the gap between Gonzalez and closer Jim Johnson. O’Day threw 1.2 innings of perfect relief.
The O’s got a scare in the top of the ninth, as Red Sox reliever Mark Melancon drilled Robert Andino in the helmet with a fastball. Andino actually started toward the mound before making his way to first base. He was lifted for a pinch-runner and sent to the hospital for testing, the results from which will come Saturday.
In the bottom of the ninth, Johnson slammed the door on the Sox, giving up one hit in so doing.
The O’s and Sox do battle again Saturday at 1:10. Randy Wolf (2-0, 5.23/5-10, 5.66) goes for the Orioles, vs. Boston’s Aaron Cook (4-10, 4.93).
The GOOD:
- Johnson’s save was his 46th, a new Orioles record.
- Wieters: 2/4, 1 2b, 1R, 3RBI
- Jones: 2/3, 1 2b, 2R, 1BB
- Andino: 2/2. 1BB, 1HBP
The BAD:
- Nate McLouth, JJ Hardy, and Manny Machado: 3LOB
- The Orioles hit into three double plays.
