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Based on the stats, the recent history, the standings, the pitching matchup and any other indicator that could be dusted off, Saturday night's Orioles- Boston Red Sox contest at Camden Yards was supposed to be a one-sided affair.
The final result, an 11-5 Boston win that gave the Red Sox a mind-numbing 15-2 advantage in the season series between the American League East foes, was predictable.
How it unfolded, though, wasn't.
The Orioles were in the game through six innings; their rookie, David Hernandez, had his best outing in three weeks; and the enigmatic offense was bashing Orioles-killer Jon Lester, Boston's left-hander.
But then it all fell apart when the Orioles' bullpen imploded in the seventh and eighth innings and the Red Sox scored eight runs, restoring baseball and world order before an announced 39,285, most of which roared for the visitors.
The silver lining from the first five innings quickly evaporated.
"You are encouraged by how Hernandez threw, his start," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "Obviously, you are disappointed you lost, you are disappointed that you lost in the fashion that you did. The game got out of hand after he left."
The Orioles' beleaguered bullpen turned a 3-3 nail-biter into the previously advertised rout. Matt Albers (2-6) gave up two runs in one-third of an inning, Alberto Castillo failed to retire any of the three batters he faced and Bob McCrory served up back-to back homers, including a three-run shot to J.D. Drew that was set up by Ty Wigginton's error at first base.
"I felt good today, I just left a couple pitches over he plate," Albers said. "I think the thought process was there, just missed a little bit. But in this game, that's all it takes."
Especially against the Red Sox (88-59), the American League wild-card leaders who have won 15 of their past 20 games and seven straight against Baltimore.
The Orioles (60-88) attempted to rally in the ninth, with Wigginton and Felix Pie hitting back-to-back solo homers, but Matt Wieters grounded into a double play with the bases loaded to end the game.
It was a matchup that looked far from promising on paper.
For five innings, however, the proverbial reverse lock was in effect, with Hernandez, loser of his past four, out-pitching Lester, who is now 10-0 against the Orioles.
Lester (14-9) entered the night in the midst of a career-high scoreless innings streak of 17, the longest in the AL. That was broken before he retired a batter in the first - on the first of Wieters' three singles.
Overall, the Orioles scored a run in three of Lester's first four innings and tagged him for a season-worst-tying 10 hits, including homers by Wigginton and Melvin Mora.
Lester had given up just four homers in his past 15 starts and hadn't yielded two long balls in one outing since June 18 against the Florida Marlins.
Meanwhile, Hernandez, who has had significant trouble keeping the ball in the ballpark, allowed just one homer to the powerful Red Sox.
Hernandez, who had allowed 16 runs in his past three games, threw his first quality start since Aug. 27, lasting six innings and surrendering three runs on seven hits.
"I felt like I was able to make some good pitches with runners on base and the defense made good plays behind me," Hernandez said. "That's what you need to stay in the ballgame."
But once he left, the Orioles came unglued. They have been outscored 59-26 in their past seven games with the Red Sox.
"We did not get the outs from Albers and Castillo that we expected to get. Both of those guys have been pitching rather well for us, [but] it didn't happen," Trembley said.
The final result, an 11-5 Boston win that gave the Red Sox a mind-numbing 15-2 advantage in the season series between the American League East foes, was predictable.
How it unfolded, though, wasn't.
The Orioles were in the game through six innings; their rookie, David Hernandez, had his best outing in three weeks; and the enigmatic offense was bashing Orioles-killer Jon Lester, Boston's left-hander.
But then it all fell apart when the Orioles' bullpen imploded in the seventh and eighth innings and the Red Sox scored eight runs, restoring baseball and world order before an announced 39,285, most of which roared for the visitors.
The silver lining from the first five innings quickly evaporated.
"You are encouraged by how Hernandez threw, his start," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "Obviously, you are disappointed you lost, you are disappointed that you lost in the fashion that you did. The game got out of hand after he left."
The Orioles' beleaguered bullpen turned a 3-3 nail-biter into the previously advertised rout. Matt Albers (2-6) gave up two runs in one-third of an inning, Alberto Castillo failed to retire any of the three batters he faced and Bob McCrory served up back-to back homers, including a three-run shot to J.D. Drew that was set up by Ty Wigginton's error at first base.
"I felt good today, I just left a couple pitches over he plate," Albers said. "I think the thought process was there, just missed a little bit. But in this game, that's all it takes."
Especially against the Red Sox (88-59), the American League wild-card leaders who have won 15 of their past 20 games and seven straight against Baltimore.
The Orioles (60-88) attempted to rally in the ninth, with Wigginton and Felix Pie hitting back-to-back solo homers, but Matt Wieters grounded into a double play with the bases loaded to end the game.
It was a matchup that looked far from promising on paper.
For five innings, however, the proverbial reverse lock was in effect, with Hernandez, loser of his past four, out-pitching Lester, who is now 10-0 against the Orioles.
Lester (14-9) entered the night in the midst of a career-high scoreless innings streak of 17, the longest in the AL. That was broken before he retired a batter in the first - on the first of Wieters' three singles.
Overall, the Orioles scored a run in three of Lester's first four innings and tagged him for a season-worst-tying 10 hits, including homers by Wigginton and Melvin Mora.
Lester had given up just four homers in his past 15 starts and hadn't yielded two long balls in one outing since June 18 against the Florida Marlins.
Meanwhile, Hernandez, who has had significant trouble keeping the ball in the ballpark, allowed just one homer to the powerful Red Sox.
Hernandez, who had allowed 16 runs in his past three games, threw his first quality start since Aug. 27, lasting six innings and surrendering three runs on seven hits.
"I felt like I was able to make some good pitches with runners on base and the defense made good plays behind me," Hernandez said. "That's what you need to stay in the ballgame."
But once he left, the Orioles came unglued. They have been outscored 59-26 in their past seven games with the Red Sox.
"We did not get the outs from Albers and Castillo that we expected to get. Both of those guys have been pitching rather well for us, [but] it didn't happen," Trembley said.
