Red Sox Wrap: Boston Suffers Sweep To Orioles With Extra-Inning Loss

In the latest installment of their American League East rivalry, the Boston Red Sox suffered a disappointing 9-4 loss to the Baltimore Orioles in 10 innings at Fenway Park on Thursday, April 14, 2023. This defeat marked a series sweep for the Orioles, who have now won eight games and lost only four in their 2023 campaign. In contrast, the Red Sox have managed to secure just seven victories and six defeats this season.

The game was a closely contested affair, with both teams displaying impressive offensive performances. However, it was the Orioles who ultimately emerged victorious, thanks to some timely hitting and solid relief pitching.

Boston started strong, with leadoff hitter Alex Verdugo reaching base on an error by Orioles third baseman Maikel Franco in the bottom of the first inning. Verdugo then stole second base and advanced to third on a groundout by Rafael Devers. Xander Bogaerts capitalized on this opportunity, driving in Verdugo with an RBI single to give the Red Sox an early 1-0 lead.

The Orioles responded in the top of the third inning, as Cedric Mullins led off with a double and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Austin Hays, tying the game at 1-1. In the top of the fifth, Baltimore took the lead with a two-run homer by Trey Mancini, making it 3-1 in favor of the visitors.

The Red Sox battled back in the bottom of the sixth, with J.D. Martinez launching a solo home run to left field, cutting the deficit to one run. However, the Orioles extended their lead in the top of the seventh, as Anthony Santander hit a two-run double, making it 5-3.

Boston refused to give up, scoring another run in the bottom of the eighth inning on an RBI single by Christian Arroyo, but the Orioles answered back in the top of the ninth with a solo home run by Mullins, restoring their two-run advantage.

The game went into extra innings, and in the top of the 10th, the Orioles sealed their victory with a three-run homer by Pedro Severino, making it 8-4. Boston managed to score one more run in the bottom of the 10th, but it was not enough to prevent the sweep.

The Red Sox will look to bounce back in their next series against the Toronto Blue Jays, starting on Friday, April 16, 2023, while the Orioles will face the New York Yankees in their next contest.

One big takeaway from this game is the strong offensive performances from both teams, with a total of 23 hits and 13 runs scored between them. Additionally, the Red Sox struggled with defensive errors, committing three in this game, which ultimately proved costly in their defeat.