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Sox Dice-KO Orioles

Daisuke Matsuzaka did not exactly dominate the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday afternoon at Camden Yards, but he pitched more than well enough to notch his third win of the season. Staked to a three-run lead in the first, Dice K left after 5 1/3 innings with the Sox ahead 8-2. Reliever Ramon Ramirez allowed an inherited runner to score, but pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the sixth to help Boston top the struggling O’s 9-3.

Sox centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury lead the rout with three hits, including his eighth home run of the season, three RBI and his league-leading 63rd stolen base. Ellsbury, a defensive wizard, has developed into the player we all expected after the 2007 post-season. Counting Sunday’s three-hit afternoon, he is now batting .304 with a .356 OBP, 83 runs scored, and nine triples.

Meanwhile, the Orioles are merely playing out the string. Starting pitcher Jason Berken allowed 10 hits and 6 runs in just 3 innings of work, and dropped to 5-12, with an amazing 6.41 ERA on the season.

Notes:

Boston finishes the 2009 season 16-2 against the Orioles . . . Jason Bay hit his 35th home run of the season . . .Takashi Saito struck out two in a scoreless ninth

Tags: Baltimore Orioles, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jacoby Ellsbury, Ramon Ramirez, Red Sox