Through eight innings, this is a game for the Birds.

The Orioles are leading, 5-0, with the game heading into the bottom of the ninth.

Baltimore rookie right-hander Jeremy Guthrie has the Red Sox eating out of his hands. But with one out in the ninth, Coco Crisp's seemingly harmless popup between the plate and the mound isn't caught.

Guthrie could have handled it with his bare hands it was hit so softly. But pitchers don't catch popups. It's an unwritten rule. So catcher Ramon Hernandez tries to make a lunging catch and the ball clangs off his glove for an error.

And suddenly, the floodgates open as Baltimore manager Sam Perlozzo surprisingly replaces Guthrie, who has thrown only 91 pitches. Orioles relievers Danys Baez and Chris Ray implode. Four hits and two walks later, Boston has pushed six runs across the plate, the last of which scores as Julio Lugo beats out a grounder to first base, touching off bedlam on the field and in the stands.

Perlozzo is fired a short time later.