Red Sox Give Alexander and the Orioles a Real Reason to Be Mad This Time

For the second game in a row, a Red Sox starter went seven scoreless innings, backed up by two scoreless innings from the pen, as they beat Baltimore 5-0. Unlike Friday night, on Saturday the bats were engaged throughout the game and provided a little bit of insurance to help Gray cruise to his 17th victory of the season.

Sonny Gray clearly accepted the challenge that Ranger Suárez threw down the night before and ran with it. The veteran righty went seven shutout innings, allowing only three hits and three walks while fanning seven Orioles batters. Other than a few nervous moments in the first and then the third inning, the Baltimore offense never really mounted much of a threat.

In the top of the first inning, it looked like Boston would get off to another hot start down in BMore as they loaded the bases against Chris Bassitt thanks to two walks and an infield single by Story. Kiner-Falefa ended the threat, though, when he swung at the first pitch he saw and grounded out to third base.

In the bottom half of the inning, it appeared that the Orioles might get a little lucky when a bloop by Gunnar Henderson found its way safely onto the grass at Oriole Park, just inside the foul line and away from Jarren Duran’s glove, for a video-reviewed double. Gray then walked Pete Alonso and fell behind Orioles’ catcher Samuel Basallo 3-1 before inducing a harmless ground ball to Sogard at third to end the threat.

In the bottom of the third inning, the Orioles mounted their biggest challenge to Gray when Colton Cowser led off with a double to left field and moved to third with only one out on a fly ball to right by Jackson Holliday. Chad Tracy brought…