Near no-no: Silent Sox smoked by O's

BALTIMORE -- Scott Podsednik's bunt single to lead off the top of the first inning was the only hit that the Red Sox managed, as Orioles starter Chris Tillman dominated en route to an easy 9-1 victory. 

Tillman needed just 100 pitches to sail through eight innings in which he permitted just Podsednik's bunt single while walking two and striking out four. The right-hander improved to 9-2 with a 2.78 ERA. 

Though the Sox manufactured a run in the top of the first, as Podsednik reached second on a throwing error, advanced to third on a sac bunt and scored on Dustin Pedroia's sacrifice fly. But that lead proved short-lived. 

Aaron Cook, in his worst outing of the year, was battered for six runs on five hits (including two homers) and three walks in just one-plus inning of work. Thus concluded a season in which Cook showed early promise before getting hammered down the stretch. He permitted 15 homers in just 94 innings this season, a stunning total for a sinkerballer. His 1.4 homers per nine innings represented a career-high total, while Cook concluded the season having walked more hitters (21) than he struck out (20). His record dropped to 4-11 with a 5.65 ERA. 

The lion's share of damage was done by Ryan Flaherty, who swatted a second-inning grand slam against Cook and later added an RBI double against reliever Alfredo Aceves for a career-high five RBIs. Orioles right fielder Chris Davis also went deep against Cook, crushing a two-run homer (his 29th) in the first. 

The Sox dropped to 69-88 while losing their third straight game. The Orioles, meanwhile, improved to 90-67, as their magic number for a playoff spot dipped to three. 

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