*Photo from MassLive*
The Boston Red Sox love going to Camden Yards to face the Baltimore Orioles. They kept that going by clinching another series win in Baltimore. Rafael Devers homered and drove in 3 runs, Hunter Renfroe homered, and the Red Sox beat the Orioles with a 4-3 win Sunday afternoon.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of the production from Devers that "He’s been doing a great job with men in scoring position, and he’s been very patient lately, which is good. The home run, that was eye-opening. I think that's the first breaking ball they throw, and he's all over it. It seems like that ball was like 5 feet off the ground, and it just kept carrying."
The home run Cora is referencing came in the second inning, when Devers cranked a solo shot to center field, which tied the game 1-1 at the time. Devers also stepped up in the 6th with the bases loaded, taking a high fastball and sending it to right field for a two run double to make it 3-2 in favor of Boston. Renfroe added insurance on a solo homer in the 8th inning.
Cora then said "Forget the home run, I think the line drives the other way help him out. He looks like he's balanced now. He's not trying to do too much, and when he does that, he's in a good spot. Actually, his swing reminds me a lot of what he did in Spring Training. I told him the other day, ‘Don't change a thing.’ He's putting the ball in play with two strikes, there's not too many swings and misses, and when he makes contact it’s loud contact."
Nick Pivetta picked up the win for Boston, allowing two runs on 3 hits and 3 walks, hurling 6 innings. Josh Taylor came on and worked a scoreless 7th inning, and then it was Adam Ottavino who came in, allowing one run in the 8th. Matt Barnes then came in and slammed the door in the 9th, recording save number 8 of the season.
Ryan Mountcastle put the Orioles ahead 1-0 in the first on an RBI single. Cedric Mullins then gave the O's a 2-1 lead in the 5th when he took an offering from Pivetta into the right field seats for a solo homer. In the 8th, Mountcastle added an RBI double to cut the Boston lead to 4-3, but they couldn't manage any more.
It was Dean Kremer who got tagged with the loss for the Orioles, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits and a walk, adding 3 strikeouts over 5 innings pitched. Cole Sulser allowed the other run for the Orioles in his 1 2/3 innings. Adam Plutko and Paul Fry each saw time as well, not allowing any runs in their appearances.
Kremer said of his tough start that "My dad before the season and last season is like, ‘Don’t get too caught up in the start to start.’ This is a small blip, that can be a long career. I'm trying to get better every start and pitch with the mentality of leaving it on the field."
The Red Sox and Orioles wrap up their series tonight, with Martin Perez starting for Boston, and Jorge Lopez starting for Baltimore.
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