O's game blog: Yefry Ramírez gets start in the nightcap

The Orioles have lost the first two games of this series with Boston by scores of 19-12 and 5-0. Tonight they host the Red Sox in game three of the four-game series at Oriole Park.

Baltimore (35-82) has lost seven of nine, eight of 11 and 23 of its past 34 games. The Orioles are 20-37 at home and 2-12 versus the Red Sox. They were shutout for the 10th time this year in today's first game.

Boston (83-35) has won eight of nine, 12 of 14 and 27 of its last 33 games. The Red Sox are 41-20 on the road and 41-15 versus AL East teams. The shutout earlier was the 12th by Boston and that ties the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland and Pittsburgh for the MLB lead.

Right-hander Yefry Ramírez (1-4, 5.66 ERA) gets the start for the Orioles. Tonight he is making his ninth MLB appearance of the year and his eighth as a starter. He had his shortest start in his last outing at Texas. Over 1 2/3 innings he allowed five hits, five runs and five walks. Over his past two games against the Yankees and Rangers, Ramírez has thrown 6 2/3 combined allowing 11 hits and 11 runs with eight walks and five strikeouts. The Orioles are 3-4 in his seven starts.

Ramírez has made two starts this season versus Boston, going 1-1 with an ERA of 5.79. Over 9 1/3 innings, he has yielded eight hits and six runs.

Ramírez has made four starts against AL East opponents, going 1-3 with a 7.85 ERA. The most recent start against a divisional opponent came on July 31 in New York. He took the loss, allowing a career-high six runs on six hits, one home run, with three walks, four strikeouts, and one hit batsman in five innings. Three of his starts against AL East opponents have come at Oriole Park and he is 1-2 with a 6.75 ERA.

Right-hander Hector Velázquez (7-0, 2.64 ERA) will start Game 2 for Boston. He has an ERA of 2.45 in 7 1/3 innings since the All-Star game. He is 2-0 with a 2.63 ERA in three starts this season. One of those came on April 14 versus the Orioles when he allowed two runs over five innings and got a victory.

Trey Mancini is batting .288 with four homers since the break. Mark Trumbo went 0-for-4 in the opener to snap his 12-game hitting streak. Adam Jones has hit safely in 16 of 17 games in the second-half, batting .353. Cedric Mullins is 4-for-7 his first two games.

The Hall of Famers: Before tonight's game, the Orioles Hall of Fame added two new members. Second baseman Brian Roberts was officially elected along with broadcaster Fred Manfra, as this year's Herb Armstrong winner.

Roberts and Manfra were honored at a luncheon on Friday. Roberts played 13 seasons with the Orioles from 2001-2013, compiling a .278 batting average and 1,452 hits. He ranks first in O's history among second baseman in all major offensive categories. Drafted in the first round of the 1999 First-Year Player Draft (No. 50 overall), Roberts was a two-time All-Star (2005 and 2007). Roberts has provided analysis for select games on the Orioles Radio Network this season.

Before retiring in 2017, Manfra spent 24 years with the Orioles Radio Network. The East Baltimore native and Patterson High School graduate joined O's radio in 1993. In his 47-year broadcasting career, Manfra covered numerous O's highlights and other marquee sporting events.