Red Sox hand Orioles 5th straight loss 7-1 behind Eovaldi

BALTIMORE (AP) — Nathan Eovaldi allowed five hits over seven innings, Xander Bogaerts and Mitch Moreland homered and the Boston Red Sox beat Baltimore 7-1 Thursday to extend the Orioles' losing streak to a season-high five games.

It was the second straight victory for Boston following a nine-game skid. Though the Red Sox are 10 games under .500 and in the AL East cellar, Seattle now owns the worst record in the American League.

Bogaerts hit a solo shot in the third inning and added an RBI single in the ninth before Moreland connected with two on against Miguel Castro.

“Good timely hitting," manager Ron Roenicke said, who summed up the night with a phrase he hasn't used too often this season: “Nice ballgame."

Pat Valaikia homered for the Orioles, who dropped under .500 (12-13) for the first time in nearly two weeks.

Coming off an awful performance against the Yankees (5 1/3 IP, 8 ER), Eovaldi (2-2) was dominant in his longest outing since Aug. 4, 2018. The right-hander struck out six, walked one and allowed only one extra-base hit — Valaika's homer leading off the seventh.

“I know Nate has been after me to go longer," Roenicke said. “He did a great job on all his pitches. He really didn't have any innings to worry about. It's huge for Nate to go those innings and allow the bullpen to rest."

Both of Eovaldi's wins this year are against the Orioles, the other coming on opening day.

“Nate Eovaldi give us a really tough time," Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde said. “That was an unbelievable start. That was Nate being really, really good, throwing every pitch for a strike — the fastball, the cutter, breaking ball, the split —- and being on for seven innings."

Boston used an RBI single by José Peraza and a run-scoring grounder to take a 2-0 lead in the...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Red-Sox-hand-Orioles-5th-straight-loss-7-1-behind-15502716.php