Questioned at times this season for not allowing his starters to go deeper in games, Orioles manager Dave Trembley decided to stay with Jeremy Guthrie for one more batter. The result was Kevin Youkilis' go-ahead, two-run homer and the Orioles manager shouldering the blame for his team's 6-5 loss.
"We busted our butts to win the game tonight and I left Guthrie in the game one hitter too long," Trembley said. "I'll take that. I really believed that he was going to get him out."
On a night in which five homers flew out of Camden Yards and one more would have had Boston Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury not reached over the center-field wall in spectacular fashion to rob Luke Scott of a solo shot in the sixth inning, it was Youkilis' blast in the top of the seventh that proved the decisive swing and sent the Orioles to their ninth loss against Boston in 11 tries this year.
Before an announced 44,091 on Friday night, Guthrie gave up three homers, which accounted for all but one of the Red Sox's runs, in 6 2/3 innings. He has surrendered 26 homers this season, the most in the American League.
"I don't have the explanation, I don't have the solution, obviously, or I would [have] hopefully corrected it by now," said Guthrie, who has given up home runs in five straight starts and a total of nine during that span. "I would take any suggestion; I have taken suggestions."
The Orioles (44-58) were able to come back from David Ortiz's two-run homer in the third inning that gave the Red Sox a 3-0 lead. Nolan Reimold answered with a two-run shot off John Smoltz in the bottom of the inning that was ultimately reviewed and upheld to tie the game.
They were able to survive Ellsbury's go-ahead solo shot off Guthrie in the fifth as Aubrey Huff hit a two-run homer in the sixth, the 200th of his career, and his first since July 3.
"It sure was nice," Huff said. "I'm just glad it landed near the bullpen so a Red Sox fan couldn't get it."
But after Ellsbury robbed Scott of a solo shot and denied the Orioles a two-run lead to end the sixth, Guthrie (7-10) allowed a one-out single to Ellsbury. He then fanned Dustin Pedroia for the second time. Guthrie's pitch count was at 107 and Matt Albers was ready in the bullpen when Youkilis stepped to the plate.
"He's supposed to be your best guy," Trembley said of Guthrie. "He's your No. 1 guy. He wants the opportunity. You feel confident he's going to get the guy out. He deserves the opportunity to be there. It's that simple.
