BALTIMORE – With the aid of his teammates and retired Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia, Boston 1B Bobby Dalbec snapped an 0-for-27 batting slump with a single and a three-run homer, powering the Boston Red Sox to a 6-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night at Orioles Park at Camden Yards.
Sox starter and team ace Eduardo Rodriguez (5-0) allowed one run on seven hits while striking out two batters over five innings to help the Red Sox improve to a the MLB-best record of 20-13. Boston won the last nine games Rodriguez has started against Baltimore, where he originally signed as a free agent in 2010 before he was traded to the Sox for reliever Andrew Miller.
The Red Sox lead the majors in runs (166), batting average (.267), slugging (.444), on-base+slugging (.776), doubles (72), and extra base hits (113). In their last 5 games, the Sox are batting .311 with an .856 (on-base+slugging) with (7.4 runs per game).
Tonight, Boston’s righty, Garrett Richards, (1-2, 4.40 ERA) will make his third start against the Orioles this season. In the previous two games, he’s 0-1, allowing eight runs and 10 hits with six strikeouts and five walks over seven innings.