Red Sox

The baseball world believes the Orioles will be better in their first full season under manager Buck Showalter. One baseball scribe, Mike Puma of The New York Post , thinks the Orioles are improved enough to make the playoffs, and he even he has them advancing all the way to the American League Championship Series. In The N.Y. Post's 2011 baseball staff predictions , the Mets beat writer prognosticated that the Orioles will take the American League wild card, pick up a series win the Divisional Series and lose to the Red Sox, his World Series champions, in the ALCS.

With last night's 4-1 victory over the Red Sox, Orioles starter Zach Britton became the first rookie in franchise history to win four games in April. The 23-year-old allowed one run and five hits in six innings of work, a performance that impressed the guys in the other dugout. Here are a few quotes from Red Sox players who were raving about Britton after last night's game : Designated hitter David Ortiz: "He’s got good stuff. We don’t know the kid, so that makes it even worse.

Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen became the first Orioles starter to throw five innings this spring and was one wind-aided home run ball away from a scoreless effort against the Red Sox's split-squad team Saturday afternoon at Ed Smith Stadium. Otherwise, the Orioles tied the Red Sox 3-3 after 10 innings, Baltimore's third tie in eight days. Chen yielded six hits and struck out three in his five innings (75 pitches) but allowed a three-run homer to Nate Spears, a fifth-round pick of the Orioles' in 2003.

FORT MYERS, Fla. - After rallying from an early four-run deficit, the Orioles dropped a 5-4 decision to the Red Sox on Tuesday afternoon at JetBlue Park. Orioles right-hander Oliver Drake allowed a two-out double by shortstop Pedro Ciriaco in the seventh inning to score Nate Spears from third for the winning run. Trailing 4-0, Orioles nonroster invitee Xavier Avery hit a two-run single to right in the fifth inning. Wilson Betemit's two-run double off JetBlue Park's mock Green Monster in left field tied the game in the sixth.

(UPDATE: Showalter said Reimold is slated to go on the DL, but the Orioles won't make that move official until before tonight's game in case tonight's game gets rained out. The move would be retroactive to Tuesday, so he would be eiligible to return on May 16) The move hasn't been announced yet, but the Orioles are bringing up catcher Luis Exposito. It's likely that outfielder Nolan Reimold will be heading to the disabled list with a cervical spine injury because he's not listed as an available player on tonight's lineup card.  Speaking of the lineup, it's an interesting one. Second baseman Robert Andino, who has flourished in the No. 9 hole is hitting leadoff tonight.

BOSTON -- Suddenly you understand why Kevin Kennedy told the media two weeks ago how much he wanted to manage the Boston Red Sox in 1995.It is because the Red Sox could be putting themselves into a position where they will go from doormats to the prime contender in the American League East when the the baseball strike finally ends.Barring unforeseen circumstances, the Red Sox will wind up with Kansas City Royals right-hander Kevin Appier, Montreal Expos closer John Wetteland and Chicago Cubs right fielder Sammy Sosa, the Boston Globe reported yesterday, citing anonymous sources.

Under new manager Buck Showalter, the Orioles had a winning August for the first time since 1997, recorded more victories than they had in two months under Dave Trembley and secured their first winning road trip in two seasons. But they still can't beat Boston Red Sox ace Jon Lester, even though for six innings they set themselves up to do just that. The Orioles scored five runs off Lester in the first two innings, the most they've tallied in any of his previous 15 starts against them.

BOSTON -- It isn't a style to which they have become accustomed, but the Red Sox understand they have to force the issue if they're going to catch the Toronto Blue Jays.It's not a new look as much as it is a necessary look. With 16 games to play, a 2 1/2 -game deficit to make up and a few injuries to camouflage, the Red Sox don't have the luxury of waiting for things to happen."We think we're the best team in the Eastern Division," said emergency outfielder Steve Lyons, "and we want to represent it [in the playoffs]

They were the types of at-bats that were missing for much of the season and have become more prevalent as the Orioles continue to find ways to win baseball games rather than lose them. Nick Markakis was down to his last strike against Boston Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka, and he ripped a double off the base of the Green Monster, putting runners on second and third with the score tied in the seventh inning. Ty Wigginton quickly fell behind 0-2 to Daniel Bard, one of the top setup men in baseball with his near-100 mph heat and his nasty slider, and he worked the count full before bringing in a go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly to deep center field.

Each morning, Monday through Friday, I'll hook you up with reading material to skim through as you slug down coffee and slack off at the start of your workday -- that way I'll have an excuse to do the same at the start of mine.   Running it back: The Red Sox found yet another way to humiliate the Orioles on Monday night, breaking a tie with an eight-run eighth inning on their way to a 15-10 win . ... Andy MacPhail said he received "legitimate interest" from clubs about J.J. Hardy, but he felt the Orioles should keep Hardy instead of dealing him away for prospects . ... Alfredo Simon was headed back to the United States on Monday night after attending a legal hearing in the Dominican Republic and could return to the team by Tuesday.