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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
BALTIMORE (AP) – They scored only four runs in 29 innings, yet
still took two of three from the Boston Red Sox.
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| Jason Johnson |
The Baltimore Orioles couldn't have asked for a better start to
the season -- even if they did suffer the embarrassment of being
no-hit by Hideo Nomo on Wednesday.
Derek Lowe walked Melvin Mora with the bases loaded and two outs
in the bottom of the ninth inning, forcing in the winning run in
Baltimore's 2-1 victory Thursday night.
"In spring training we ran the bases aggressively, pitched well
and caught the ball well. It seems to have carried over so far,"
Orioles manager Mike Hargrove said. "Our starting pitchers have
done a good job, keeping us in games to allow us a chance to win."
Jason Johnson turned in the third straight fine performance by a Baltimore starter, allowing only one run and seven hits in 8 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out six.
Despite getting only 12 hits in the three games, the Orioles won
twice.
"To be able to take two out of three from the Red Sox with (Pedro) Martinez pitching one of those games is nice," Hargrove said.
Held hitless by Nomo one night earlier, the Orioles managed six
hits off Frank Castillo and three relievers. But the Red Sox also
struggled offensively, for a third straight game.
"I know we can hit," Boston manager Jimy Williams said.
"There's good hitters in that lineup. If you pitch and play like
that, you'll win."
Boston scored only five runs -- four earned -- in the series.
Brady Anderson led off the ninth with an opposite-field double
to left off Lowe (0-2), who has both of Boston's losses. Anderson
moved to third on a groundout, and Lowe issued two intentional
walks to load the bases.
Williams then brought in center fielder Carl Everett, filling
the infield with five players and leaving the outfield with only two.
The strategy worked, as Jeff Conine grounded into a force play at the plate for the second out. But Lowe threw inside to Mora on a 3-2 pitch, and Delino DeShields strolled home with the winning run.
Buddy Groom (1-0) got two outs in the ninth after Johnson left.
"You get confidence in winning the series, and bigger
confidence in winning these type of games," Baltimore catcher Brook Fordyce said. "Those are the kind of games you have to win."
Johnson, eager to erase the memory of a 1-10 season a year ago,
threw 77 strikes and only 33 balls.
"I liked the fact that he maintained his concentration from the
first pitch to the last," Hargrove said. "When it got tight,
Jason could have reverted. But he didn't."
Castillo, making his debut with Boston, allowed one run and four hits in 5 1/3 innings.
"I felt like I threw the ball pretty well. I still felt good in
the sixth," he said. "The bats will come around for us. It's just
a matter of time."
A baserunning mistake cost the Orioles a chance to go up 2-1 in
the sixth. With one out, Jerry Hairston tagged up from third on a
fly ball and beat the throw to the plate. The Red Sox appealed the play, and third base umpire Eric Cooper ruled Hairston left the base too early.
Boston got a runner to third with one out in the seventh, but
Johnson retired Trot Nixon on a foul popup before Jose Offerman lined out to second.
Offerman, frustrated over his new role as a backup second
baseman, got his first start of the season. He went 2-for-4 and
scored a run.
Baltimore went up 1-0 in the fifth when Mora doubled and Cal
Ripken got his first hit of the season, an RBI single to left.
Singles by Offerman and Carl Everett and a run-scoring grounder by Troy O'Leary tied it in the Boston sixth.
Game notes
Boston stranded runners in scoring position in five
innings. ... Baltimore's bullpen, last in the AL last year with a
5.58 ERA, has pitched 4 2-3 scoreless innings in the first two
games. ... Johnson's longest stint last year was seven innings. ...
Lowe's ERA swelled to 13.50.
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RECAPS
Toronto 11
Tampa Bay 0
Minnesota 9
Detroit 5
NY Yankees 1
Kansas City 0
Baltimore 2
Boston 1
Anaheim 10
Texas 3
Cincinnati 4
Pittsburgh 1
Chicago Cubs 2
Montreal 1
Colorado 11
St. Louis 2
NY Mets 7
Atlanta 1
Houston 8
Milwaukee 2
Los Angeles 7
Arizona 5
San Francisco 8
San Diego 2
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