Orioles bounce back, win nightcap 10-3

After a 16-run loss this afternoon, few expected the Orioles to rally in the night cap. But the Birds did just that. Baltimore claimed the lead with a three-run seventh inning, and tacked on some late runs resulting in a 10-3 victory over the AL East champs.

They say it’s difficult to win both games of a double header, which apparently means it’s tough to lose both too. The Orioles used some timely inning and strong relief pitching to gain an advantage before breaking things open in the ninth.

Trey Mancini drove in Caleb Joseph and Jonathan Villar with a single to center that gave the Orioles the lead for good. Two batters later, Renato Nunez plated Mancini with a single to right field. The Orioles bullpen kept Boston off the board after the fifth inning.

The Orioles did not waste any time getting things started after the blowout loss. Leadoff hitter Cedric Mullins was hit by a Chris Sale slider, and Mancini laced a stand-up triple into the right field corner to plate Mullins with ease.

With Mancini on third, Sale plunked Adam Jones to put runners on the corners. Both of the first inning HBP’s were with a breaking ball, but Jones did not appear thrilled when he was hit for the second time in the top of the ninth inning. The second bean ball was a high fastball by Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel.

Renato Nunez drove in Mancini with a sacrifice fly to left field. Mancini scored without a throw, and the Birds were up a pair.

The Red Sox trimmed that lead in half with an unearned run in the bottom half of the inning. Starter Jimmy Yacabonis allowed two singles and a walk to load the bases. With two outs, Brandon Phillips hit what should have been an inning-ending ground out to short. Instead, Villar booted the ball and the Red Sox got a run out of it. Yacabonis got Christian Vasquez to ground out and end the threat.

Boston evened the score and chased Yacabonis from the game with one out in the fourth. Sam Travis singled up the middle, and Tzu-Wei Lin drove him in with a triple to right field.

The Birds reclaimed the lead in the fifth inning. Joseph reached on a single to center, Mancini worked a walk, and Jones drove the catcher in with a double that trickled to the Green Monster.

Boston notched the score again in the bottom of the frame. Rafael Devers led off the inning with a double, and Blake Swihart drove him in with a single to right field.

After taking the lead in the seventh inning, Baltimore tacked on four more in the top of the ninth. Villar came around to score on a wild pitch by Kimbrel, and John Andreoli brought in two with a ground-rule double. The Orioles final run came via an RBI single to right field by Steve Wilkerson.

Mancini finished 2-4 with 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Jones reached base in all five at bats, and finished 3-3 when he wasn’t hit by a pitch. Joseph finished 2-5 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored.

Tanner Scott and Paul Fry did a tremendous job working a little longer than usual after the bullpen was taxed earlier in the day. Scott worked 2.2 innings and allowed just one run, and Fry tossed three scoreless innings. Scott picked up the win in relief, and Fry got credit for a save despite the large margin of victory.

There’s something to be said about a now 46-112 team not packing things in after an embarrassing loss to start the day. The Orioles didn’t quit, and there’s something to be said for that.

The Birds now have to fly back to Baltimore and get ready for a game Thursday evening. While the team must be exhausted, the plane ride back must be a little easier with the taste of a seven-run victory being a little fresher than a 19-3 defeat.