BALTIMORE — Before the season began, Baltimore rookie manager Lee Mazzilli rationalized that his young pitching staff had a chance to succeed because the Orioles’ new and improved offense would help take the pressure off.
“We score four or five runs. … Now he knows if he gives up two runs he won’t lose the game,” Mazzilli explained.
He didn’t say anything about giving up three runs, nor did he address the problem that will face the Orioles on many nights against American League East opponents — the new and improved lineup may have difficulty scoring since they will often be up against Cy Young-caliber starters.
Yesterday afternoon it was former Oriole Curt Schilling — a two-time 20-game winner — who punched holes in Mazzilli’s premise for success, as he held the Orioles to one run in six innings and led the Boston Red Sox to a 4-1 win before 35,355 at Camden Yards.
The Red Sox scored four runs, three earned, off Baltimore starter Eric DuBose, one of the young pitchers the franchise is counting on to compete in the toughest division in baseball.
The one unearned run came at the hands — or lack thereof — of Orioles third baseman Melvin Mora, who committed two errors, adding to the one he had in Baltimore’s 7-2 win Sunday night over Boston. One miscue in the Boston ninth on a ground ball by Ellis Burks allowed Pokey Reese to cross the plate with the Red Sox’s fourth run.
Mora, who had played third base seven times in his major league career before starting for the Orioles there Sunday night, appears shaky at the position.
Mazzilli said he didn’t believe it was going to be a problem. “I’m not concerned,” he said. “It was just a tough day. During camp, I thought he was fine.”
DuBose was not fine, experiencing control problems and failing to get his fastball down in the strike zone early and walking six in 5⅓ innings, though he gave up only four hits. He was his own worst enemy on the field, allowing the first run on a wild pitch when his spikes got caught in the rubber.
Still, holding the Red Sox lineup — the most powerful in baseball last year — to three runs going into the ninth inning showed something.
“You hold a team down to three runs in the ninth inning, you’re in the game,” Mazzilli said. “It just didn’t click today.”
It won’t get any easier at Camden Yards, when another former 20-game winner, Derek Lowe, pitches for the Red Sox today against 25-year-old Kurt Ainsworth, who has 15 major league starts.
DuBose recognized the challenge he was up against yesterday in Schilling, who was traded to Boston in the offseason after forming one of the all-time great pitching duos in baseball history in Arizona with Randy Johnson.
“He is one of the best pitchers in the game,” DuBose said. “You don’t expect the offense to get a whole lot off him.”
Schilling, who gave up six hits, walked one and struck out seven in six innings, is particularly difficult when he has the lead. The Red Sox staked him to an early one by scoring two in the second inning.
Manny Ramirez scored on DuBose’s wild pitch to Jason Varitek and Kevin Millar scored on a single to right-center field by Varitek. Boston added the third run on a solo home run to left by Millar in the fourth inning.
Baltimore’s lone run came in the fifth when Larry Bigbie scored on Luis Matos’ double.
The Orioles got strong relief from left-hander John Parrish, who shut out the Red Sox for 2⅔ innings.
Closer Keith Foulke dispensed of the Orioles in the ninth, needing nine pitches to retire the side and record his first save as a Red Sox.
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