Doubront Good, Matusz Better In Loss (21-22)

Doubront pitched really
well last night

Just one game after the Red Sox reached .500 and tied the Yankees for fourth, all was erased as the Red Sox dropped a tough one. After a scoreless first for both teams, the Orioles got going a bit in the second when Wilson Betemit walked to start off the inning. There was a force out afterwards, but two runs would still score when Steve Tolleson took an inside fastball to left-center for his first home run of the season to give the Orioles a 2-0 lead in the second. Neither team would score in the third, but the Red Sox answered the Orioles blast a bit in the fourth inning when Kevin Youkilis-- in his first game off the DL-- shot a home run to center field to cut it to a 2-1 Orioles' lead. There would be no baserunners for either team through the fifth and sixth as Brian Matusz and Felix Doubront each really settled into grooves last night. The Red Sox were able to knock Brian Matusz out of the game one batter into the seventh inning-- as he left the game with a 6.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 9 K-- he would lower his ERA from 5.36 to 4.86 in the win.

Youkilis hit a home run 

To begin the seventh inning, Doubront would be out of the game-- he left with a 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 9 K line. Franklin Morales entered the game and got into a little jam in the seventh inning. Morales allowed a single to Chris Davis and a walk to Steve Tolleson before making Xavier Avery fly out. He would be taken out of the game after that, and Matt Albers would enter the game. Albers was great in getting out of that jam, striking out Robert Andino and J.J. Hardy to end the Orioles' threat. Despite Matt Albers' seventh inning heroics, he would be stung in the eighth inning when Wilson Betemit crushed an inside fastball for a two-run home run to deep right field over the mini-monster in Camden Yards. This would essentially end the Red Sox' hopes as they grounded out twice and flew out once in the ninth for an easy, 1-2-3, save for Orioles' closer Jim Johnson. The Red Sox will go for the series win at 12:35 today, and go for .500 once again!

Bright Spots:
Felix Doubront- 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 9 K, L (4-2)
Kevin Youkilis- 1-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI

Dull Spots:
Mike Aviles- 0-4, 1 K, 1 LOB
Dustin Pedroia- 0-4
David Ortiz- 0-4, 2 K
Will Middlebrooks- 0-3, 1 K, 1 LOB
Marlon Byrd- 0-2, 1 K

Player of the Game:
Felix Doubront- Doubront pitched very well last night, allowing just two runs over six innings and shutting the O's out completely after the second, he is now 4-2/3.96/53 on the year.