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 Fortunately, the Baltimore Orioles' manager didn't have to face his
former prospect at his best Thursday in the Orioles' 8-6 win over
the Boston Red Sox in the series finale at Fenway Park.
Rodriguez, who was traded last season by Baltimore for Boston
left-hander Andrew Miller, was knocked out of the game after a
career-low 3 2/3 innings. The 22-year-old left-hander was tagged for
six runs on seven hits and struck out five on 67 pitches (43
strikes).
"He's going to be a good pitcher," Showalter said. "He's got a
chance to be really solid, and we knew that when we traded him. ...
Young pitchers have those moments."
Baltimore (38-34) took two of three in the series and improved to
9-4 against Boston this year.
Matt Wieters' two-run homer highlighted a six-run fourth inning that
ultimately did Rodriguez in. The catcher deposited a 2-0 pitch into
the Orioles' bullpen in right field with one out in the fourth,
giving him three home runs this season.
"I just knew that we needed to do something different to be able to
get a win against him than we did the last time," Wieters said, "and
we put up a big inning against him."
Rodriguez had faced his former team once before, holding Baltimore
scoreless on three hits and three walks while striking out seven
over six innings in a no-decision on June 9.
On Thursday, the upstart southpaw looked primed for another shutdown
outing against the Birds after he retired the first 10 batters.
"He was dominant," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "And then he
gets in the stretch, they make a little bit of an adjustment, and
he's not commanding the baseball as he was when he got into the
stretch."
Rodriguez has allowed 15 earned runs in his last 8 1/3 innings at
Fenway.
"He was pretty good in his first time around facing those guys," Red
Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts said. "Then obviously they made the
adjustments that they needed."
Boston (32-42) fell 10 games under .500 and has lost its last six
series against AL East foes.
Left fielder Alejandro De Aza hit a three-run home run against his
former team in the fourth to lead the Red Sox bats. Catcher Blake
Swihart and shortstop Xander Bogaerts had RBI hits.
Bogaerts also scored on a wild pitch in the seventh, pulling Boston
within two runs.
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Baltimore starter Miguel Gonzalez (6-4) lasted just long enough to
get the win in his return from the disabled list, leaving in the
sixth after allowing four runs on eight hits and striking out four
in five innings.
Left-hander Zach Britton converted his 17th straight save and 21st
overall.
Shortstop J.J. Hardy joined Wieters with a multi-RBI game of his
own, doubling and driving in a pair of runs that put the Orioles up
5-1 in the fourth inning.
Third baseman Manny Machado, designated hitter Chris Davis and
second baseman Ryan Flaherty each had an RBI in Baltimore's 14-hit
attack.
NOTES: Baltimore finished its eight-game road trip at 5-3 and is now
24-20 against AL East opponents in 2015. ... Orioles CF Adam Jones
(shoulder) missed his fourth straight game. The center fielder ranks
11th in the American League with a .298 batting average. ...
Baltimore starting RHP Miguel Gonzalez had never surrendered more
than three earned runs in six career starts at Fenway Park. ... Red
Sox INF Dustin Pedroia (hamstring) was placed on the 15-day disabled
list and OF Hanley Ramirez (wrist) is day-to-day after both left
Wednesday's game with injuries. ... Red Sox RHP Joe Kelly was
optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket and C Erik Kratz was designated for
assignment. OF Jackie Bradley Jr. and INF Deven Marrero were called
up from Pawtucket. Boston also selected RHP Jonathan Aro from
Pawtucket. ... Baltimore will host Cleveland for a three-game series
and Boston will visit Tampa Bay for three starting Friday.
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