Trumbo Smacked 42nd Homer Of The Year, 100th RBI Of 2016
BOSTON -- Mark Trumbo took it upon himself to hang the "1" in Rick Porcello's 13-1 record at Fenway Park.
Trumbo hit a towering solo home run in the second inning off the Boston Red Sox's ace and that proved to be enough for the Baltimore Orioles in their 1-0 victory on Wednesday night.
"We're obviously very much aware that he's had a tremendous season," Trumbo said. "Whether it be at this park or another one, we still have a job to do."
Trumbo blasted a first-pitch slider from Porcello an estimated 448 feet for a homer that easily cleared the Green Monster in left field to lead off the second.
It was his major league-leading 42nd homer of the year and his 100th RBI of 2016, tying a career high set during his 34-homer season with the Los Angeles Angels in 2013.
Baltimore (80-65) moved within a game of first-place Boston (81-64) in the American League East after the Toronto Blue Jays -- who began the day tied for second with the Orioles -- were blown out by the Tampa Bay Rays earlier in the day.
"To think that you could make one run stand up in this ballpark that's got an offensive team that they are is a real tribute to how well Kevin (Gausman) and Zach (Britton) pitched," Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said.
The Red Sox have lost back-to-back games after clocking the O's 12-2 in the series opener on Monday.
"This is going to be a hard-fought division right to the final game of the season," Boston manager John Farrell said. "We fully embrace it."
Gausman (8-10) outdueled Porcello, the majors' first 20-game winner, tossing eight scoreless innings while allowing four hits and one walk and striking out six.
Britton shut down the Red Sox in the ninth to convert his 43rd straight save opportunity to start the year, a major league record for a left-handed pitcher.
Porcello (20-4) suffered his first loss at Fenway this season after going 13-0 in his first 14 starts at the ballpark. He was charged with one run and four hits and fanned six.
Porcello and Dave Ferriss are the only Red Sox pitchers to open a season 13-0 at home. Ferriss accomplished the feat in 1946. No Red Sox pitcher has ever gone 14-0 at home to begin a season.
"We lost and it's a big game," Porcello said. "There's no satisfaction in that."
Houston Astros starter and 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel remains the only major leaguer since 1900 to start a season 14-0 at home, opening 15-0 in 2015.
Boston failed to advance a runner past first base through the first six innings against Gausman, but Chris Young's two-out single to left-center field put runners on the corners with two outs in the seventh.
Gausman got out of the jam, however, striking out Sandy Leon with a splitter.
"I felt like I had him sped up, so I decided to go with the split-finger," Gausman said, "and it was probably one of the best ones I threw all night."
David Ortiz led off the Boston ninth with a dribbler to first base. Mookie Betts flied out to left and Hanley Ramirez struck out swinging to end the game.
Porcello gave fans a scare two batters after Trumbo's blast as J.J. Hardy's line drive deflected off his left calf. Porcello immediately started limping but stayed in the game after being examined.
"(Hardy) put a good swing on it," Porcello said. "I couldn't get my glove down in time.
"It got me in a good spot. If it got me in the shin it might have been a little bit tougher."
Gausman held the Red Sox without a hit for 3 2/3 innings before Betts hit a line-drive single to right.
