Orioles' playoff hopes fading with shutouts
BOSTON (AP) - If the Baltimore Orioles get shut out of the postseason, they can point at this weekend's blanking in Boston as a big reason.
Henry Owens gave up three hits in 7 2-3 innings, Blake Swihart hit a solo home run and the Red Sox completed a three-game sweep of the Orioles with shutouts in each game, 2-0 on Sunday afternoon.
The Orioles entered the series with a long shot. They now trail Houston by 5 ˆ½ games for the AL's second wild-card spot.
"It's frustrating because our guys are prepared," Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said "They work hard to be prepared and they know exactly what they've got to do. Everybody is trying so hard just to get it back in one swing. It's tough when you try to push like that."
It's the first time in their history the Orioles were blanked on three straight days by the same team.
"It's been really hard for us, especially these three days when we haven't scored," tough-luck loser Ubaldo Jimenez said. "There's nothing you can do. They're trying really hard. They're pressing a lot to score runs, but it didn't go our way."
Jimenez (12-10) gave up two runs on six hits in seven innings.
Ten of Baltimore's 12 hits in the series were singles.
The Orioles played their final road game of the year, finishing 34-50. It's their most losses since 51 in 2011.
Boston's victory came in its 2015 Fenway Park finale. The Red Sox finished their 104th season in the fabled park with a 43-38 record.
Owens (4-3) gave up three singles, striking out five and walking one. He also went 7 2-3 scoreless against Baltimore in Camden Yards on Sept. 16.
Robbie Ross Jr. worked the ninth for his sixth save.
With Boston leading 1-0 in the second, Swihart led off with a homer into the Red Sox bullpen.
On Saturday, first-time starter Craig Breslow and six relievers combined on a five-hitter after journeyman Rich Hill posted his first shutout in nine years, a two-hitter on Friday.
Brock Holt's hustle led to Boston's first run. He raced from first to third on Xander Bogaerts' single to left-center and scored when Jimenez's pitch bounced in the dirt only a few feet away from home plate.
ORIOLES' BAT-LESS
It was the first time Baltimore has been shut out in three straight games since July 29-31, 1957.
OUTFIELD ERRORS
LF Nolan Reimold and CF Adam Jones both dropped fly balls for errors - though Jones appeared it lose his in the sun.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles: CF Jones was back in the lineup after missing six straight with back spasms.
Red Sox: RHP Clay Buchholz (strained right elbow) threw a bullpen session Sunday with interim manager Torey Lovullo, club president Dave Dombrowski and vice president Frank Wren watching. Lovullo said it's "very doubtful" Buchholz will pitch again this season.
UP NEXT:
Orioles: RHP Chris Tillman (10-11) is set to face Toronto's Marco Estrada (13-8) Monday when Baltimore opens a season-ending, seven-game homestand. Tillman was tagged for six runs in three innings the last time he faced the Blue Jays, on Sept. 6.
Red Sox: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (9-6) is scheduled to start against New York's Ivan Nova (6-9) at Yankee Stadium on Monday in the opener of a four-game series. Rodriguez has allowed three or fewer runs in his last six starts.