Miley's ERA rises after getting chased early by O's

BALTIMORE -- Wade Miley can't pinpoint one reason why he has struggled with the Red Sox this season. The left-hander, however, did admit that he has been embarrassed by his recent performance.

Miley struggled against Baltimore's powerful lineup on Sunday, allowing seven runs (six earned) on five hits with two walks over just 2 1/3 innings. It was the second time in four starts this season he didn't last past the third inning. Miley is 1-2 with an 8.62 ERA, marking one of the worst stretches of his five-year Major League career.

The Red Sox went on to lose, 18-7, to the Orioles, who took two of three games in the series. It was the most runs Boston surrendered since a 20-2 loss to Oakland on Aug. 31, 2012.

"I'm not overly concerned, but I just have to do a better job," said Miley, who also did not record a strikeout for the first time as a starter. "It's obviously not fun to go out and let happen what happened today. ... I have to put it behind and move into next week."

Most of the trouble for Miley happened in the third inning, when he could not find the strike zone. He allowed two four-pitch walks that led to the Orioles' second run. Miley then allowed three straight hits to Delmon Young, Chris Davis and Steve Pearce that put Boston behind, 5-0, and forced manager John Farrell to go to the bullpen.

"Obviously, it got out of control," Miley said. "I just didn't make pitches."

The Red Sox's starting rotation has an ERA of 5.75 and are throwing slightly more than five innings per game. This has put added pressure on the bullpen, which broke down and allowed 11 runs in the series finale.

Heath Hembree, who was called up earlier in the day from Triple-A Pawtucket, made his debut in the sixth inning and allowed six runs on six hits in 1 1/3 innings, including a towering home run to Davis.

"We've got to do better in all phases of the game," Farrell said. "It starts with getting the game under control from the mound. That wasn't the case today."