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Buchholz, Red Sox top Orioles 11-0 in Samuel debut

Jun 5, 2010 - 3:10 AM By DAVID GINSBURG AP Sports Writer

BALTIMORE(AP) -- Clay Buchholz pitched another masterpiece against the Baltimore Orioles, whose first game under interim manager Juan Samuel was hauntingly similar to many that preceded his promotion.

Buchholz threw a five-hitter for his second career shutout, Marco Scutaro homered and scored three runs, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Orioles 11-0 Friday night to ruin Samuel's debut as a big league manager.

Kevin Youkilis and Adrian Beltre also homered for the Red Sox, who have won six straight on the road.

Buchholz (8-3) walked one and struck out two in his third career complete game and first shutout since he no-hit the Orioles on Sept. 1, 2007. The right-hander is 5-0 with a 0.99 ERA in his last five starts and has won nine successive starts on the road, a streak that began last August.

"My confidence is good," Buchholz said. "We score a lot of runs. It's not like I go out throwing a 1-0 game every time out. Guys are swinging it, and it's fun to go out there when we're scoring a lot of runs."

Samuel was promoted from third base coach Friday morning after the Orioles fired Dave Trembley. In explaining the move, president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said he was "hoping to ignite a spark."

It didn't happen against the Red Sox, who led 3-0 after one inning and 7-0 after four.

"I was very relaxed. It was the same as when I was coaching third base," Samuel said. "The only thing is, when we're on offense, I was in the dugout. I didn't feel any pressure at all. I was just relaxed and letting the guys go out and play."

They played like the team with the worst record in the majors (15-40). The Orioles have been blanked five times this season and have scored only eight runs in their last seven games.

Baltimore proved to be no challenge for Buchholz, who earned his 20th career win - including five against the Orioles.

Asked if he noticed a change in Baltimore's approach under Samuel, Buchholz replied, "They've been aggressive every time I've pitched against these guys. I didn't notice anything."

Buchholz allowed only two hits through the first six innings and at one point retired 11 straight.

"He is a maturing pitcher and we're seeing it right in front of us - and it's exciting," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "He's putting it together. He looks confident, and he should be."

Orioles starter Chris Tillman (0-1) allowed seven of the 11 batters he faced to reach base. The right-hander yielded four runs, five hits and two walks in 1 1-3 innings, the shortest outing by an Orioles starter this season.

Despite the change in managers, the Orioles experienced a familiar sensation in the top of the first. After Boston used a single and two walks to load the bases with no outs, Victor Martinez hit a run-scoring grounder and J.D. Drew followed with a two-run double.

Baltimore has been outscored 40-18 in the first inning this season.

The second inning wasn't much better. Dustin Pedroia hit an RBI single to chase Tillman and make it 4-0.

Youkilis connected off Mark Hendrickson with two on and two outs in the fourth. All the runs were unearned because Orioles catcher Matt Wieters let a third strike slip through to the screen, a passed ball that allowed Bill Hall to reach first.

Beltre greeted Matt Albers by hitting his seventh homer leading off the fifth, and Scutaro hit a solo shot in the eighth to make it 9-0.

NOTES: Jon Lester, 10-0 lifetime against Baltimore, will start for Boston on Saturday night. ... Baltimore 3B Miguel Tejada has gone 127 at-bats without a homer, the second-longest drought of his career. ... Boston OF Jeremy Hermida left the game with a bruised left forearm. ... Orioles first base coach John Shelby missed the game to attend his daughter's high school graduation. He was replaced by bench coach Jeff Datz. ... Boston starters have gone at least six innings in six straight games.