Orioles shut down 8-0 on Red Sox bullpen day
BOSTON (AP) - The Baltimore Orioles' bats have gone cold at the wrong time.
First-time starter Craig Breslow and six relievers combined on a five-hitter, and the Boston Red Sox beat Baltimore 8-0 Saturday, further denting the Orioles' slim playoff hopes.
This shut out came a day after Boston journeyman Rich Hill blanked Baltimore with a two-hitter.
"We haven't scored in the last two days, so that kind of starts and ends there for me," Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said. "We swung it better in Washington, but we just went through a two-game period here where we haven't done much offensively. I'll be the first to tip my hat to the other team, but we're capable of better."
The Orioles came into the weekend with a small chance for a playoff berth after a three-game sweep of Washington, but they were shut down offensively and played shoddy defense.
The Orioles fell 4 1/2 games behind Houston for the AL's second wild-card spot.
Third baseman Manny Machado made a pair of two-run errors, both coming on grounders by Xander Bogaerts.
"Manny would be the first one to tell you that he spoils us at a very high level of play," Showalter said. "People expect him to catch everything, and he just about does."
Wei-Yin Chen (10-8) took the loss. He gave up two runs in 5 2-3 innings.
"Overall, I feel good," he said through an interpreter. "In the fifth and sixth inning, I kind of lose my command out there, and I couldn't get it back in time. It's the thing I'm not happy about today."
Making his first career start after 522 relief appearances over 10 years, Breslow allowed two hits in four innings. Heath Hembree (2-0) worked one inning for the win.
Josh Rutledge drove in two runs, and Brock Holt scored twice. Rusney Castillo and Mookie Betts each had two hits for Boston.
Machado misplayed grounders in the seventh and eighth when the Red Sox broke open the game with six unearned runs.
Breslow got the Red Sox off to a good start, then Matt Barnes threw two hitless innings. Alexi Ogando, Tommy Layne and Noe Ramirez each got one out and Jonathan Aro worked the ninth.
Boston took the lead in the fifth when Holt walk and Rutledge doubled. Castillo doubled in the sixth and Holt hit an RBI single.
STREAK SNAPPED
Chen's career-best, four-game road winning streak was halted.
STILL GOOD GLOVES
Despite tying their season high with three errors, the Orioles have made the majors' fewest with 71.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles: CF Adam Jones (back spasms) was not in the lineup for the sixth straight game, but was available off the bench. Jones did run and throw in the outfield before the game.
UP NEXT
Orioles: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (12-9) is set to go Sunday. He's 2-0 with a 3.57 ERA and 17 strikeouts in his last three starts, but gave up four runs in a no-decision against Boston on Sept. 15.
Red Sox: LHP Henry Owens (3-3) is scheduled to start Boston's home finale. He tossed 7 2-3 scoreless innings in his only other start against Baltimore on Sept. 16.