Game 1: Jon Lester, (6-6, 4.68) @ Jason Berken, (1-4, 6.32) Scouting Report: Red Sox: The left-hander continued his recent roll by holding the Nationals to six hits and three runs over six innings in his last start, a 6-4 win. Lester has given up three earned runs or less in six of his last seven starts. In his four June starts, Lester is 2-1 with a 2.33 ERA. Lester won his only start against the Orioles this season, firing seven shutout innings and striking out nine on April 19. In eight road starts this season, Lester is 3-3 with a 5.26 ERA. Orioles: Berken pitched relatively well in his last start, when he worked five innings and gave up three runs. One of those was unearned, and Berken was pulled for a pinch-hitter in a 3-0 game. The rookie hasn't won since his big-league debut, and he's completed six innings once in his last four starts. Despite an erratic start, Berken will continue to get opportunities for the foreseeable future. Game 2: John Smoltz, (0-1, 9.00) @ Rich Hill, (3-2, 6.03) Scouting Report: Red Sox: Following days of buildup, Smoltz's first Major League start in more than a year -- and his first for any team besides the Atlanta Braves -- turned out to be a disappointment. The right-hander gave up four runs in the first inning en route to a 9-3 Red Sox loss to the Nationals. On the positive side, Smoltz settled down nicely after the rough opening inning. He wound up allowing seven hits and five runs over five innings, throwing 92 pitches. Smoltz has never started a game at Camden Yards, but he did earn saves in both of his career appearances there. Lifetime against the Orioles, he is 1-1 with a 4.37 ERA in six games. Orioles: Hill has been highly erratic this season and hasn't completed five innings in four of his last six starts, but the Orioles appear committed to this reclamation project. Hill struck out the side on 10 pitches in the first inning of his last start, but then he allowed a pair of two-run home runs in the next two innings. For Hill to be successful, he has to mix his pitches and locate within the strike zone. Game 3: Josh Beckett, (9-3, 3.48) @ Brad Bergesen, (5-2, 3.76) Scouting Report: Red Sox: The ace will close out this nine-game road trip with the Red Sox with the goal of continuing his recent dominance. Beckett has been nothing short of electric of late. In his last seven starts, the right-hander is 5-1 with a 1.24 ERA. In five of his last seven starts, Beckett did not allow an earned run. This is his last start before All-Star selections and Beckett is looking like a strong candidate to make the team, perhaps even as the starter. Beckett is holding opponents to a .239 average. In eight road starts, he is 5-3 with a 4.03 ERA. Orioles: Bergesen continued to shine in his last outing, throwing six innings and giving up just one earned run while striking out five. It was Bergesen's fifth win of the season and fourth straight win. The Orioles provided him plenty of cushion, scoring 11 runs in the right-hander's most recent win on the mound.
Great game so far. Drew has the two hardest parts of the cycle already, I hope he gets the other two.
Because the save rule is retarded. He entered and finished the game with the tying run on deck, so that's a save.
I've had enough of this pattern of winning the first two and then dropping the last game of a series. Real men complete sweeps, dammit!
Except this was the just 5th time out of 132 saves that there was a 4 run lead since he became a closer in 2006. By comparison, Rivera has 6 over that same span. Nice try though.
