BOSTON — The Red Sox led 8-2 against the last-place Baltimore Orioles entering the seventh inning. But Boston’s bullpen melted down with its 12th blown save.
The Red Sox lost 12-8 to the Orioles here at Fenway Park on Friday.
The bullpen has converted only 8-of-20 save opportunities. It had more runs allowed (10) than outs recorded (nine).
Jake Diekman surrendered a three-run homer to No. 9 hitter Jorge Mateo in the seventh as Boston’s lead shrunk to 8-5. John Schreiber gave up a two-run homer to Austin Hays in the eighth inning that made it 8-7.
Matt Strahm replaced Schreiber with two outs in the eighth. He allowed a ground-rule double to Rougned Odor, then an infield single to Ramón Urías.
Rafael Devers barehanded Urías’ soft roller and made an errant throw to first base that tied the game 8-8.
Strahm returned for the ninth. He allowed three straight singles, including the go-ahead hit to Anthony Santander.
Hirokazu Sawamura replaced Strahm. He walked the first batter he faced and threw a wild pitch with the bases loaded as the Orioles went ahead 10-8.
The Orioles added two more runs on Ryan Mountcastle’s RBI sac fly and Odor’s RBI single.
Bogaerts lead four-run first inning
Orioles starter Kyle Bradish’s eighth pitch of the at-bat, an 87 mph slider, stayed over the center of the plate and Xander Bogaerts absolutely demolished it.
Bogaerts’ three-run homer went 423 feet and left his bat at 112 mph. It put the Red Sox ahead 4-0 four batters into the game.
Boston’s first five batters reached to begin the bottom of the first inning.
Red Sox offense stays hot
Verdugo, who singled in the first, smashed a 406-foot ground-rule double to right-center field with the bases loaded in the second inning, putting Boston ahead 6-0.
Bogaerts, Verdugo, Franchy Cordero and Jackie Bradley Jr. all had two hits. Devers had three hits.
Whitlock pitches 6 innings
Garrett Whitlock didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning when Anthony Santander crushed a 419-foot two-run homer to right field to make it 6-2.
The righty went 6 innings for the first time in his major league career. He allowed two runs, five hits and one walk while striking out four.
He recorded six swings-and-misses. His fastball averaged 95.4 mph and topped out at 96.9 mph, per Baseball Savant.
Doubleheader on Saturday
The Orioles and Red Sox will play a doubleheader Saturday.
Righty Nathan Eovaldi (1-2, 4.10 ERA) will start Game 1 for Boston. Right-hander Josh Winckowski will make his MLB debut when he starts Game 2.
Winckowski has a 3.13 ERA, 2.80 FIP, 0.85 WHIP and .183 batting average against in seven starts for Triple-A Worcester this season. He has 34 strikeouts and six walks in 31 ⅔ innings.
Baltimore has not yet announced its two starters.
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