SERIES RESULTS: 2-2 Tie
THE GOOD
Former Texas Ranger Nelson Cruz continued his torrid season against the Red Sox, as the Orioles outfielder/designated hitter has three home runs and nine runs batted in only seven games this season against Boston. Cruz has raked against the Red Sox his entire career, and if he can continue to make an impact against one of the Orioles’ biggest rivals, his one-year contract that already looked good, will look even better.
Closer Tommy Hunter struggled in the fourth game of the series, allowing a run on two hits and a walk (intentional) in one inning of work. Hunter does not have an especially impressive stat line with an ERA of 4.50 and WHIP of 1.33, but the right handed flamethrower has nevertheless gotten the job done this season in crunch time, blowing only one save out of his first six chances in his new role as the Orioles’ closer (and even that one shouldn’t have been blown).
Center fielder Adam Jones enjoyed a productive series against the Red Sox as well, raising his batting average over fifty points during the four-game set, from .259 to .310. Jones picked up three RBI in the series and added two stolen bases in the series as well, which were his first of the year. Perhaps most encouraging is that Jones struck out only twice in the series and drew a walk, as he continues to try to become a more disciplined hitter.
THE BAD
The starting pitching (especially Chris Tillman – 5.0 IP, Ubaldo Jimenez – 5.1 IP , and Wei-Yin Chen – 5.0 IP) struggled to get deep in the ball games, as no Oriole starter in any game pitched especially effectively. The Red Sox are known for making pitchers work, but they put these skills on display in the series, especially in the final three games, as Bud Norris was the only Oriole starting pitcher to finish the sixth inning. The starting pitching will need to become more consistent and efficient, or the bullpen will be overworked as the season progresses.
Rookie second baseman/replacement third baseman Jonathan Schoop has struggled defensively this season, and is the owner of more than half of the Orioles’ errors this season with his team-leading four. The rookie has struggled especially with the throwing across the diamond. Schoop obviously is not a natural third baseman, and likely will not see much time at third base after 2013 All-Star and Gold Glove third baseman Manny Machado returns from rehab.
It may not be fair to look at a player who is getting on base at a .390 clip and ask them to do more, but first baseman Chris Davis is experiencing a pretty severe power outage. 2013’s leader in homeruns and runs batted in has only one long ball and only nine RBI at this point in the season. Last season Davis slugged .634, and this year has a slugging percentage almost 300 points lower at .367. For the Orioles to continue to produce offensively, they will need Davis to begin hitting the ball with more authority.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This series was emotional for the Red Sox and for their fans, one year after the tragedy that took place at the Boston Marathon. Every player in Boston’s dugout was likely fired up the entire series, and the fans were restless throughout all four games. That being said, it is hard to be unhappy with splitting with the defending World Champions on the road, but the Orioles really did have some opportunities they wasted. In the third game the Birds blew an early 5-0 lead, and if they continue to make mistakes like that, they will have a tough time staying afloat in the ultra-competitive AL East. The Orioles also could do some good to take a page out of the Red Sox’s offensive book, and become more selective at the plate. The Orioles starters struggled because every player on the Red Sox is always good for a quality at bat.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Orioles will travel north of the border to play a three-game series with division rival Toronto, who took two out of three from the Orioles in Baltimore earlier this month. The first game will be Miguel Gonzalez vs R.A. Dickey, with Chris Tillman and Dustin McGowan in Game 2. The finale will see Bud Norris and Drew Hutchinson toeing the rubber. The Blue Jays are currently 10-9 and in second place in the AL East, and over last weekend had sparkplug shortstop Jose Reyes return from injury.
