Boston Routs Liz, Hands Orioles 10th Loss in 11 Games
Red Sox 14, Orioles 2
Boston Red Sox's David Ortiz, left, welcomes home teammate Dustin Pedroia, right, after Pedroia hit a three-run home run off a pitch by Baltimore Orioles' Fernando Cabrera in the fourth inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park, in Boston, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008. Orioles catcher Ramon Hernandez, center, looks away. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
(Steven Senne - AP)
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Wednesday, September 3, 2008; Page E08
BOSTON, Sept. 2 -- Much like the ceremonial first pitch or the national anthem, pitching meltdowns have become a ritual for the Baltimore Orioles.
Even before Radhamés Liz looked atrocious in a 14-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox, the Orioles announced that right-hander Jeremy Guthrie, the lone bright spot in the rotation this season, will miss his scheduled start Wednesday as a precautionary measure to combat arm and shoulder fatigue.
The Orioles only added to the sour news, allowing 20 hits to the Red Sox en route to their fifth straight loss and their 10th in their last 11.
"Hopefully, this is rock bottom," Manager Dave Trembley said.
With Guthrie sitting out, the Orioles will start Lance Cormier. But Trembley said he may use a string of relievers in a piecemeal approach to get the Orioles through the game.
"It could be a spring training-like game tomorrow, unfortunately," Trembley said.
After his last start at Tampa Bay on Friday, when Guthrie allowed a season-high seven runs, he admitted to not feeling well.
"I saw him pitch the other day in Tampa and the ball just isn't coming out of his hand like it should," Trembley said. "I think he would readily admit his arm feels like you do in spring training, kind of like a dead arm. He really doesn't have a lot of zip on a lot of pitches."
Guthrie, who has already pitched a career-high 186 2/3 innings, said he doesn't feel soreness and he has no plans to undergo any medical exams. But he said the fatigue has affected his pitches.
"It's fatigue and dead arm to the point where I can't execute pitches nearly where I needed to, to compete and give my team a chance to win," said Guthrie, whose 3.57 ERA is easily the lowest in the starting rotation. "I think Dave looked at that, realized that and said, 'Let's do something that's best for you and best for the team.' "
Guthrie is scheduled to pitch again next week during the Cleveland series. But even after he returns, Guthrie will get an extra day's rest for the remainder of the season.
"I think he has earned that," Trembley said.
