BOSTONThe Fenway futility continues for the Red Sox. Falling, 8-2, to the Orioles Saturday afternoon, as they lost their fourth straight, their home record fell to 4-9, 11-15 overall.
Right-hander Aaron Cook, whose May 1 opt-out clause was the cause of much consternation, made his Red Sox debut. But he lasted just 2 23 innings. Cook gave up seven runs, six earned, on eight hits and a walk with a wild pitch.
Meanwhile, Os right-hander Jason Hammel silenced the Red Sox offense for much of his outing. The Sox finally broke through with two runs in the seventh, knocking Hammel from the game. With two outs, Ryan Sweeneys double off the wall scored Adrian Gonzalez, who singled, ending Hammels day. Darren ODay came in and gave up an RBI single to Cody Ross. But that was all the Sox would get.
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After Gonzalezs two-out double in the first, Hammel did not give up another hit until Gonzalezs single in the seventh. Facing 14 batters through the first four innings, Hammels had seven strikeouts.
Hammel went 6 23 innings, giving up two runs on four hits with a walk and eight strikeouts, improving his record to 4-1, with a 2.09 ERA.
Cook injured his left knee attempting to cover home plate on a passed ball with two outs in the second inning. He left the mound and went to the dugout, appearing to leave the game, but returned to the field within minutes.
Cook was ineffective from that point. After retiring Robert Andino to lead off the third, he allowed the next seven batters to reach base. Of the final 11 batters he faced, nine reached base with seven scoring.
Cook was charged with the loss, his ERA at 20.25.
In the Orioles seven-run third, Robert Andino had a two-run homer off Cook, and Mark Reynolds had a three-run shot off reliever Clayton Mortensen.
The seven runs were the most the Orioles have scored in an inning this season.