Orioles beat Sox at long ball

The most commendable aspect of Boston’s 9-6, 17-inning loss to Baltimore Sunday at Fenway Park was also the most damning.
The effort was all out.

Nothing wrong with that, but what did it produce? Another loss.

And therein lies the frustration, a team trying its best with $78 million of payroll on the disabled list may not have enough to beat good teams.

And the Orioles, whether they remain atop the American League East standings, are a good team.

The long game, which started at 1:35 p.m. and lasted 6 hours 7 minutes (the longest Sox game since July 9, 2006 - a 6-5 19-inning loss to the White Sox), ended in complete frustration. It came down to designated hitters from both teams pitching.

Baltimore’s DH, Chris Davis, who had struck out five times in seven at-bats (he made it 0 for 8 against Boston DH Darnell McDonald in the 17th), pitched two scoreless innings while McDonald, who had come on to run for David Ortiz in the eighth inning, allowed a game-winning three-run homer to Adam Jones in the 17th.

The game featured 18 pitchers - the most since 1918 to appear in a game at Fenway.

Sox starter Clay Buchholz couldn’t get out of the fourth inning and allowed at least five earned runs for the sixth straight start. Manager Bobby Valentine ran through seven relievers before turning to McDonald. Adrian Gonzalez, who went 0 for 8, volunteered to pitch. Valentine said he wouldn’t let him.

With two taxing extra-inning games in the series, which was swept by the Orioles, the Boston bullpen is in shambles and the struggling club - 11-16 after losing five out of six at Fenway - likely will have to make a move or two to get through its game Monday night in Kansas City, Mo.

The 13 1/3 innings Sunday marked the most by a Sox bullpen since they went 14 innings vs. Cleveland April 11, 1992.

How devastating was Sunday’s loss?

“I have no idea,’’ Valentine said. “I believe in these guys. They’re tough. They were making plays the entire game. If they can’t appreciate the effort that bullpen gave them today . . . as a whole group . . . and take that forward I’d be surprised but I don’t think I’ll be surprised.’’

The silver lining was the super bullpen.

Andrew Miller, Matt Albers, Vicente Padilla, Alfredo Aceves, Franklin Morales, Rich Hill, and Scott Atchison combined for 12 1/3 innings and gave up just six hits and one unearned run (off Padilla in the eighth) before McDonald was summoned.

Valentine stayed away from Clay Mortensen, who pitched 3 1/3 innings Saturday and couldn’t use Jon Lester, who had thrown his side session before the game.