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It’s a good thing that Maryland is all about crab cakes and football, because the Orioles suck at baseball.

Boston managed a 3-1 victory in a game that didn’t seem that close. Orioles starter Jeremy Gurthrie surrendered only three runs in 5 2/3 innings despite giving up 9 hits and 3 walks. A lack of clutch hitting (the Sox were only 2-10 with runners in scoring position) prevented a blowout as Boston improved to 14-2 against Baltimore this season.

Clay Buchholz, more effective than sharp, allowed one run over six innings to improve to 6-3 on the season, while Guthrie dropped to 10-15.

Left fielder Jason Bay left the game with nebulous “flu-like symptoms” after hitting his 34th homer in the fourth inning. Hell, in Mickey Mantle’s day, “flu-like symptoms” was code for “hangover.” Of course, Jason Bay looks like a Mormon, so it’s hard to imagine him closing down Daisy Buchanan’s.

Notes:

The Sox Bullpen contributed three scoreless innings, including a 1-2-3 ninth by Jonathan Papelbon who earned his 37th save . . . Jacoby Ellsbury stole his league-leading 62nd base of the season . . . Kevin Youkilis rejoined the starting lineup, and went 0-4 with a walk

Tags: Baltimore Orioles, Clay Buchholz, Jason Bay, Jeremy Guthrie, Red Sox