Red Sox 15, Orioles 10
Boston designated hitter David Ortiz began his three-game suspension Monday night. The Red Sox didn’t need him.
Dustin Pedroia’s two-run single in the eighth snapped a tie score and sparked Boston to 15-10 win over the Baltimore Orioles in the first of a three-game series at Camden Yards.
Pedroia had two hits and three RBIs in the game and extended his hitting streak to 16 games. Kevin Youkilis also had a two-run single and Darnell McDonald had a three-run double in the eight-run eighth as Boston defeated Baltimore for the seventh straight time.
Dan Wheeler (2-1) got the win in relief pitching 2 1/3 hitless innings.
Ortiz and Baltimore’s Kevin Gregg were both suspended three games for their part in a brawl before the All-Star break at Fenway Park.
Boston led 6-2 in the fifth, but Baltimore scored five times in the bottom of the inning off Tim Wakefield, who was denied his 199th career win. J.J. Hardy cracked a two-run homer in the inning and Adam Jones had a solo shot.
Josh Reddick and Jarrod Saltalamacchia homered for Boston, which had 16 hits. Carl Crawford returned from the disabled list to play left field and went 2-for-5.
Wakefield went 4 2/3 innings allowing seven runs, three of them earned, on nine hits.
Mike Gonzalez (1-2) took the loss for Baltimore.