BOSTON _ The threat of conflict between the Orioles and Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night played out in the silliest possible way for the Orioles in a 4-2 loss at Fenway Park.
Orioles starter Kevin Gausman faced just five batters before home plate umpire Sam Holbrook ejected him from Wednesday night's game against the Boston Red Sox for hitting Xander Bogaerts with a breaking ball in the second inning.
Later, center fielder Adam Jones joined Gausman in the clubhouse early after Holbrook tossed him for barking back toward the plate on his way back to the dugout after a fifth-inning strikeout.
The episodes underlined how risky the interference by Major League Baseball that occurred Wednesday, in an effort to quell a rivalry that was starting to become more dangerous by the game, proved to be.
Instead, the zero-tolerance approach had the exact opposite effect of MLB's intervention. Rather than having the best players on the field and garnering attention for their talents, the Orioles were without their top starter and went to their bullpen in the second inning.
Gausman was a bit erratic in his control in the first inning, throwing just eight of his 19 pitches for strikes, but lost a curveball measured at 77 mph and hit Bogaerts in the back. He and catcher Caleb Joseph were apoplectic at the ejection, and all parties had to be separated from Holbrook by manager Buck Showalter.
Jones took issue with a late strike call earlier in his fifth-inning at-bat that ended with a swinging strikeout, and was run for telling Holbrook of his displeasure.
Orioles' left-hander Richard Bleier had to take the ball with little warning, and allowed an early run before settling in. Bogaerts, who was on first base after Gausman hit him, scored on an RBI single by third baseman Josh Rutledge.
Bleier allowed three runs _ one earned _ in four innings, marking his first appearance for the Orioles. Ubaldo Jimenez, who was scheduled to be Thursday night's starter, relieved him in the sixth inning. The Orioles will need to add a starter for the series finale at Fenway Park.
Jimenez walked three but allowed only one hit and struck out two in three innings of scoreless relief.
Trailing 4-0 in the sixth inning, the Orioles chased Boston starter Drew Pomeranz and scored a pair of runs to keep the game interesting. Designated hitter Mark Trumbo walked to open the inning, went to third on a ground-rule double by second baseman Jonathan Schoop, and scored on a sacrifice fly by left fielder Trey Mancini.
Schoop scored on an RBI single by shortstop J.J. Hardy for the team's second run.
