NEWS » arts in a row. Philadelphia opted to skip

BALTIMORE -- Though still mathematically alive in the AL East chase, the Baltimore Orioles have formally turned their attention toward reaching the playoffs as a wild card.David Price won his eighth straight decision, Hanley Ramirez homered and the Boston Red Sox completed a four-game sweep of the sinking Orioles with a 5-3 victory Thursday night.Baltimore fell seven games out in the division with nine to play and dipped a half-game behind Detroit for the second AL wild card. It was the first time since 2002 that the Orioles were swept at home by Boston in a four-game series.I think youve got be realistic about where we are at this point after losing four, closer Zach Britton said. Its kind of time to light a fire under our butt because those other teams playing for the wild card are right there.Britton pitched the ninth for the Orioles, but never had a save opportunity during the series.We should be playing better ball than what we showed, he said. Right now everythings not really clicking for us.Not even ace Chris Tillman, who gave up three runs, five hits and walked three in 1 2/3 innings, his shortest outing since June 2015.I was just mechanically bad tonight, he said. The more I tried to make an adjustment, the worse it kind of got for me.Boston has won eight straight to open a 5 1/2-game lead over idle Toronto in the AL East. With 13 victories in their last 16 games, the Red Sox have moved within one game of Texas for best record in the AL.Price (17-8) gave up three runs and six hits in seven innings, walking two and striking out five. The Red Sox have won each of his last nine starts since Aug. 7.That was a big win, the left-hander said. Weve played good baseball, and this is the time of the year when you want your team to get on a roll the way we have, and thats what weve done.Koji Uehara worked the eighth, and Craig Kimbrel got three straight outs for his 29th save in 31 chances.Baltimore trailed 3-0 before Trey Mancini, starting his second major league game, hit a tying three-run homer in the third inning. It was his second home run in six at-bats.At the moment, its just an unbelievable experience, the rookie said. But on the flip side, after a loss like that, you dont really think about the home run so much. It really doesnt matter.Boston used a walk, a wild pitch and Andrew Benintendis two-out RBI single off Vance Worley (2-2) to move back in front in the fifth.Ramirez hit his 29th homer in the seventh to make it 5-3 and send the Red Sox to their eighth straight win over an AL East foe, their longest such run since 1990.Boston got a first-inning RBI single from Ramirez and added two runs in the second, the last on a bases-loaded walk to David Ortiz that ended Tillmans outing.A here-we-go-again pall engulfed Orioles fans in the crowd of 26,788, but their spirits were rekindled when Mancini lined a 2-2 pitch into the seats in left field. The standing ovation continued until Price threw his next pitch.ORTIZ FAREWELLIn a ceremony before his final regular-season game in Baltimore, Ortiz was given the phone he smashed inside the visitors dugout during a tirade on July 27, 2013.Wearing a huge grin, Baltimore center fielder Adam Jones handed Ortiz the shattered phone, which was mounted on a wooden frame.Ortiz also received a $10,000 check, made out to a charity in his name. He took the check to the dugout but left the phone on the field.TRAINERS ROOMRed Sox: RHP Steven Wright (shoulder) threw from 60 feet on Thursday and was scheduled to throw from 120 feet on Friday. ... LHP Henry Owens threw five innings in the Instructional League to stay sharp and was set to rejoin the Red Sox on Friday.Orioles: RHP Kevin Gausman will have his next start delayed after experiencing discomfort near his rib cage. Dylan Bundy will start Sunday against Arizona, and the Orioles hope Gausman can pitch Tuesday or Wednesday in Toronto. ... LHP Jayson Aquino was unavailable because of a viral infection.UP NEXTRed Sox: Winless in his last five starts, Drew Pomeranz (2-5, 4.91 ERA) faces the Rays in the start of a three-game series.Orioles: Yovani Gallardo (5-8, 5.77) starts Friday against Arizona, which hopes to play spoiler behind struggling right-hander Shelby Miller (2-12, 6.90).Blake Griffin Clippers Jersey . - Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is not a fan of his teams use of the wildcat formation, saying "it makes you look like a high school offence. Chris Paul Clippers Jersey .H. -- Matt Kenseth made it 2 for 2 in the Chase, holding off teammate Kyle Busch to win Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. http://www.clippersnbateamshop.info/patrick-beverley-clippers-jersey/ . Barcelonas entertaining victory ensured the defending Spanish champions retained their share of the league lead with Atletico Madrid two rounds ahead of their meeting in the capital. Real Madrid needed a late goal by substitute Jese Rodriguez to earn a 3-2 victory at Valencia to stay in third place and three points behind its title rivals. Los Angeles Clippers Jerseys . LOUIS -- The New Orleans Saints looked like a team playing out the string. Montrezl Harrell Jersey . LOUIS -- Attorneys for the St.PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies entered their weekend series hoping for some improvement on offense -- more of it, and more consistency with it.Philadelphia won round one of that game within the game with a 4-0 win Friday.Pittsburgh is 3-4 since the All-Star break and has been outscored 30-16. The Pirates had scored five runs in each of their two games before being shut out Friday, but had just six runs combined in the other four games since the break and were limited to three hits Friday by Phillies rookie Zach Eflin.Were looking for pitches to hit, Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. Were looking for one pitch in one zone at the start of the at-bat. Were looking for the ball up and out over the plate. Were not looking for pitches down early. We had balls to hit, and we didnt hit them that well. We had some swings. At the end of the day, we only had three hits (Friday).Two of those came from Jason Jaso, on a double and a single, and Josh Harrison had the other. The players in top four spots in the lineup went a combined 0-for-13 with a hit-by-pitch producing the only baserunner.The Phillies got their four runs Friday on 11 hits off of four Pirates pitchers. Before that game, they were 2-5 since the break and had been outscored 27-17. They scored just 10 runs in four games against the Marlins.That kind of inconsistent production had manager Pete Mackanin nervous when his club scored just once Friday in the sixth despite loading the bases with no outs. Philadelphia added another with two outs in the seventh, but the game felt tight until Cameron Rupp hit a two-run homer in the ninth for the four-run margin.That gave us a liittle breathing room, Mackanin said.ddddddddddddThe teams will each be facing a young starter Saturday.Pittsburgh had been guarded about its starter until after Fridays game, when Hurdle confirmed that, We expect (Tyler) Glasnow to make the start.The rookie right-hander, who will need to be recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis, will be making his second career start. In his debut July 7, a 5-1 Pirates loss at St. Louis, Glasnow took the loss after giving up four runs on three hits, with two walks and five strikeouts.The Phillies will go with right-hander Aaron Nola (5-8, 4.41 ERA).Nola had a rough stretch when he had a 13.50 ERA and did not go beyond five innings any of five starts in a row. Philadelphia opted to skip his final start before the All-Star game so he could clear his head, Mackanin said.I understand what they did, Nola told philly.com. We dont want to miss any starts. But, at the end of the day, my arm feels good. Thats the important thing, being healthy and maintaining your health.Monday, after what stretched into a 16-day layoff, Nola allowed no runs in six innings, with two hits and one walk, in what later turned into a 3-2, 11-inning loss to Florida.It was a tough month for me back in June, said Nola, who relaxed during the All-Star break by fishing. But those two weeks off felt like a really long time and I was ready to get back out on the mound.He said he made an important adjustment.Just try to get lower strikes instead of trying to hit a corner, Nola said. So I feel like thats where I got myself in trouble. ' ' '