5-22 O's From the Booth - Matusz Pitches Gem as O's Take Down Sox!!

Good evening O's fans. The O's were able to get back in the win column tonight with a 4-1 victory over the Red Sox. I mentioned last night that Matusz was going to have to pitch a great game Tuesday night and the give the O's a chance to win. Man did he do that.

Matusz only allowed 2 hits and 3 base runners in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out nine tonight including his last batter Adrian Gonzales. The three base runners is a career low for Matusz besides in a start against the Blue Jays in 2010 when he allowed two but left the game after an inning where he got hit with a line drive. I love the fact that Buck let him go out there for the 7th and get Gonzales. He is now 4-4 after going 1-10 last year.

This is a great confidence booster for Brian and lets hope he can continue to build his momentum with every start.

The offense did not give him much support tonight. The O's were able to get a lead for Matusz in the 2nd inning. After a Wilson Betemit walk and a Chris Davis ground out, Steve Tolleson hit a 402 foot home run into the Orioles bullpen in left center field. This was Tolleson's first Orioles home run and second of his career. His other coming as a member of the Oakland A's.

The O's scored early for Matusz but not often. The game remained 2-0 until the 4th when Matusz had his only blemish of the night when Kevin Youkilis belted a solo shot in his first game off of the DL. The game remained 2-1 all the way into the bottom of the 8th inning.

After two were gone in the O's 8th Matt Wieters drew a walk off of former Orioles Matt Albers. Wilson Betemit batted next and gave the Orioles some much needed insurance as he belted a two run home run to right field to give the O's a 4-1 cushion heading to the 9th.

The O's got great pitching from the bullpen again as Darren O'Day went 2/3 scoreless and Pedro Strop pitched a scoreless 8th. Jason Johnson came in to seal the deal in the 9th for his 16th save this season and 26 in a row now dating back to last season. He is silently becoming the best closer in the game.

The O's remain two games up on the Rays for first place in the East as the Rays beat the Jays tonight. The O's have a business man special tomorrow at 12:35. The Orioles turn to Jake Arrieta to try to take the series tomorrow as Boston will have hard throwing Daniel Bard on the hill. Let's hope the O's can send the Red Sox limping out of Baltimore tomorrow and win this series. Let's Go O's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!