Ell's Bells Toll For The Orioles..Boston Red Sox 4 Baltimore Orioles 0..Fenway Park Friday

Jacoby Ellsbury is the bona-fide Baltimore Oriole killer on the Boston Red Sox, who beat the wingless Birds by a score of 4-0. During the 29-game run that dates back to April 17, 2009, Ellsbury is batting .445 (57-for-128) with six homers, 20 RBIs and 31 runs scored against the Orioles. Here he is...

"I don't know what it is; I couldn't tell you what it is. I know I like hitting here. I like coming here. We get great fans and everything. I like that."

And I have a short quote from the Red Sox skipper, Terry Francona...

"He kind of put us on his shoulders. He's had a way of doing that from time to time. He took some really good swings."

He sure did. Adriian Gonzalez broke out of his second half slump with four hits. Combining to the shutout were starter Andrew Miller and bullpen guys Albers, Bard and Papelbon. Here's the lowdown on Andrew Miller. HE NEEDS TO THROW MORE STRIKES. He has walked twenty two batters in only thirty one innings. Yesterday he gave free passes six different times. And the captain, Jason Varitek, who caught the game, kept putting down breaking ball signs when the count got out of hand. Usually when Miller has control issues, he resorts to his fastball. Way too predictable. His cutters and breaking balls, after a mid-game funk, did the job and he handed the ball to the reliable Boston bullpen, a force in itself. So all's well that ends well and a successful road trip (4-2) is in the books.

Next up starting tomorrow is a seven game home stand. That Fenway sojourn consists of three games with Seattle and four against Kansas City. Logically, the Sox should win at least five of 'em but there's no logic (or crying) in baseball. It's one game at a time, starting tomorrow. I'll have the pitching match ups for the Seattle series first thing in the morning. Enjoy this short Thursday Fenway respite, click on this post's title for more on the shutout and as always, BE WELL.