The Baltimore Orioles need to generate offense to have any chance to win games, and that’s even more clear after the past two outings.
They’ve failed to score in a pair of consecutive shutout defeats to the visiting Boston Red Sox.
The Red Sox (78-65) will vie for a four-game series sweep of the Orioles on Sunday afternoon.
“They’re making pitches, and to their credit,” Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso said. “But also for us, I don’t think we’re necessarily capitalizing the most when we get pitches in the zone. It’s really frustrating for sure.”
The Orioles (69-74) will look to shed a five-game skid.
“We’ve been here before, and for our guys it’s just regrouping, trusting each other, playing for each other,” Baltimore manager Craig Albernaz said. “Passing the baton. That’s when we’re at our best, when we’re playing that team approach, nine versus one against the starter.”
After having Saturday night off, former Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman figures to be back behind the plate for Boston. He homered twice in the series opener in a much-anticipated return to Baltimore.
Until that offensive outburst against the Orioles, Rutschman’s biggest contributions and much of his focus had been on the defensive side. He said he knows that’s important going forward as well.
“Making sure that everything’s running smoothly from the catching side, and that’s kind of been the biggest thing as far as workload goes,” Rutschman said. “Making sure I’m doing those guys a good service when I’m behind the plate.”
Boston’s starters haven’t allowed a run in back-to-back games.
“Second night in a row we’ve got the starter out there through seven innings,” Red Sox manager Chad Tracy said following Saturday night’s 5-0 victory.
Boston has named left-hander Payton Tolle (8-6, 3.23 ERA) as its starter for Sunday’s game. He’s 4-0 in his last 10 starts, though he’s without a decision in his past three outings.
Tolle has given the Red Sox at least five innings in eight consecutive starts, beginning July 20 when he allowed four runs in 5 2/3 innings to the Orioles in a no-decision — though a game Boston won. The Red Sox also won June 3 at home when Tolle blanked the Orioles for six innings. Those are the only times Tolle has faced Baltimore in two big-league seasons.
Right-hander Kyle Bradish (7-12, 4.01) will be the starting pitcher for the Orioles. He has gone seven consecutive starts without a victory, posting a 0-3 mark during that stretch.
His last victory came when he held the Red Sox to one run in six innings July 22 in Boston, though he took the loss during an April meeting at home versus the Red Sox. In 11 career starts against the Red Sox, he’s 2-6 with a 6.12 ERA.
Much might be asked of Bradish and any other Baltimore pitchers if the Orioles can’t crank up some offense.
“Seems like our guys are offensively pressing a little bit, trying to do too much,” Albernaz said. “Not everyone and it’s not every single at-bat. It’s just, you just see they’re trying, they know where we’re at. They’re trying to come through for the team and come through for the rest of the boys, and sometimes it works out where they put together some good swings.”
–Field Level Media
