Buzzsawed On The Fourth

Brian Matusz had not won since April 18th, but he pitched his best game of the year, as the Orioles prevented a sweep, 6-1.

The Orioles think a lot of Matusz, and he was terrific on Sunday, going seven innings and allowing just two hits. He struck out eight and walked three in getting his third victory.

John Lackey went 7 2/3 innings, giving up three earned runs.

Kevin Youkilis prevented the shutout by hitting a solo shot in the ninth, his 17th home run of the season.

It was just the third Orioles win at Fenway in their last 20 games there. It was just the fifth Sox loss in their last 17 games.

New York won in extra innings, while Tampa Bat beat Minnesota, so the Red Sox are 1 1/2 games out, while they are 1/2 game in front of the Rays.

BTW, Irish tenor and Yankee reject Ronan Tynan sang "God Bless America" during the seventh inning stretch today. I had a feeling the Red Sox might do this at some point. Can't say I'm crazy about bringing him in to do this. Listen, I don't know he's a really a bigot or not, but if they are just trying to tweak the Yankees by bringing Tynan in, it seems pretty sophmoric to me.