2015 Season - Game 111 - bayers3's Dynasty

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2015 Season - Game 111

Posted on July 21, 2014 at 10:38 PM.

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THE BOSTON GLOBE (RED SOX DYNASTY REPORT)

BALTIMORE, MD - The AL East race continues to be tight with Boston traveling to Baltimore today. The Rays continue to sit atop the division, but the race is starting to be about more than just the division. The Wild Card is starting to shape up and the AL East is just outside of sending multiple teams to the playoffs. In the NL the Dodgers have asserted themselves and hold baseball's best record (70-38) with the Diamondbacks (66-43) just behind them.

MLB Standings - Updated: Aug 3, 2015
AL EAST	W	L	GB
Tampa Bay	62	48	-
Boston	59	49	2
Toronto	57	51	4
Baltimore	55	53	6
NY Yankees	45	63	16
AL WILD CARD RACE	W	L	GB
Seattle	61	47	-
Oakland	60	48	-
Boston	59	49	1
Toronto	57	51	3
Baltimore	55	53	5

With the Orioles in danger of fading out of the race, this game would be important for them. With Archer and Weaver facing off again, everyone expected this game to be exciting, but nobody would believe how exciting. Boston struck right away, putting together a Jackie Bradley Jr. double with a Xander Bogaerts single to take a 1-0 lead after the 1st.

The second inning would give everyone a taste of what was coming, but Baltimore fans would have to wait. Shane Victorino hit a double and David Ortiz brought him in with a 2R-HR to take a 3-0 lead. Even with Archer on the mound, the Orioles came right back with a little help from Boston. Archer promptly loaded the bases and gave up a 2RBI double, and then Will Middlebrooks fielded a weak grounder from Adam Jones and seemed to forget the game was still going. The Orioles scored thanks to Middlebrooks and made it 3-3.

Archer and Weaver slogged through the 3rd before more fireworks in the 4th. Victorino gave Boston the lead with a solo-HR, but Chris Davis pulled Baltimore ahead with a stunning 3R-HR that left Archer visibly upset. Archer finished the inning, but after 7H and 6ER his day was done in favor of Anthony Ranaudo. Weaver probably wished he had taken a seat as well, but he came out for the 5th and got lit up like a Christmas tree. Bogaerts and Bradley teamed up at the top of the order with an RBI single to make it 6-4, and then a Pedroia single scored Bogaerts on a hit-and-run play to make it 6-5. Weaver put another man on before Middlebrooks drove in Pedroia, and with the game tied and only two out Weaver was pulled for Keven Slowey. Slowey, if you can believe it, was much worse. Ortiz gave Boston the lead with a towering 3R-HR, and Blake Swihart capped off a 7 run inning with a solo-HR for an 11-6 lead.

Ortiz isn't ready to retire just yet.

Ranaudo pitched well, shutting out Baltimore until the 7th when Nolan Reimold drove in a runner. The Orioles looked to score another but JJ Hardy was thrown out at home to end the inning. The 8th inning was basically the final nail in Baltimore's coffin. Bradley would drive in Mookie Betts after a 2B-SB combo would let him score easily from third, and then Bradley would make it to third himself after a throwing error on a pick-off attempt.

With the score 12-7 n the 9th the Orioles would tag one more on, but it was clearly too little too late. When the dust had settled the game would total 20 runs and 29 hits, almost unthinkable with the way the Red Sox had been hitting and pitching.