Alvarez couldn't hit his spots in start

Abe Alvarez was getting dressed in the clubhouse Tuesday after a game in Norwich, Conn., when he received the most unexpected call of his life.

"The coach called me in and told me I was going to Boston," said Alvarez, who was called up from Double A Portland yesterday. "I took it as a joke. But he was serious."

But the Orioles spoiled any chance of a storybook debut, taking advantage of Alvarez's shakiness during an 8-3 victory over the Red Sox in the first game of a doubleheader at Fenway Park. The 21-year-old lefthander said he wasn't nervous, despite struggling with his control while facing a lineup that included All-Star Miguel Tejada and future Hall of Famer Rafael Palmeiro.

"It was awesome," said Alvarez, who wasn't announced as the starter until just before game time. "It felt great being out there in front of all those fans."

Using a repertoire that included a changeup, a fastball in the mid-80s, and a curveball, Alvarez allowed five runs on eight hits in five innings, with five walks and two strikeouts. He was pulled after 95 pitches.

"I thought he showed a lot of good things that we thought he would show -- poise, having some character, and some guts," Sox manager Terry Francona said. "He kept his composure and actually kept us in the game."

Francona said Alvarez was picked for the spot start because of Baltimore's struggles this season against lefthanders. But Alvarez lacked the control that earned him the promotion.

He allowed the leadoff batter to reach base in four of his five innings. Meanwhile, the Orioles kept the pressure on, forcing Alvarez to work out of jams in every inning.

Tejada didn't wait long to give the rookie a harsh welcome, putting the Orioles up, 3-0, by launching an inside fastball over the Monster for a two-run homer. It was the low point of Alvarez's 30-pitch first inning.

"He did what he was supposed to do," said Alvarez, who nibbled on the outside corner most of the game. "He turned on it. That's why he's a major leaguer."

Alvarez showed some grit, bouncing back to escape a jam unscathed in the second, before allowing a solo homer to Melvin Mora in the third.

"Mora hit a great pitch," said Alvarez, who took the roster spot of reliever Jimmy Anderson, who was designated for assignment. "It was a changeup down and he showed his strength."

Alvarez faced more trouble when he walked Brian Roberts to load the bases in the fourth, but he got David Newhan to dribble a cue shot to first to end the threat.

"For a young guy to be in trouble like that inning after inning, it can be mentally straining," Sox pitching coach Dave Wallace said. "But he did not give. It could have been worse."

The end came in the fifth, when Alvarez issued back-to-back walks to Mora and Tejada. Jerry Hairston later doubled into the gap in right-center, scoring Tejada to put Baltimore up, 5-1. But Javy Lopez, who had reached on a fielder's choice, was thrown out at the plate on the play.

The play ended the inning, and Alvarez's stint with the Sox. He was optioned back to Portland after the game to make room for newly acquired infielder Ricky Gutierrez.

"I think we all think [Alvarez] has a bright future, maybe not quite yet here," Francona said.

Despite being tagged with the loss, Alvarez said he enjoyed his first major league experience.

His parents, Alex and Mercedes, watched from the stands after making the trip from California.

"As soon as I found out, I got them on a flight," Alvarez said. "It was a special day."

Alvarez even endured one of his first big league rites of passage when he was booed after walking Tejada on four pitches in the fifth.

"This is going to make me want to work harder and get back up here as soon as I can and try to help the Red Sox go where they want to go," Alvarez said. "I went out there and thought for a start it was rough.

"But you learn from it and you get better."