Red Sox 2, Orioles 1
Dustin Pedroia and Cody Ross delivered back-to-back doubles for the go-ahead run in the eighth inning as host Boston broke a four-game losing skid and ended Baltimore’s six-game winning streak.
Pedroia led off the eighth against Luis Ayala (5-5) by drilling a double inside the first-base line and Ross followed with a high-arching fly to left that caromed off the Green Monster to keep the Orioles one game behind the New York Yankees in the American League East. New York lost to Oakland on Sunday.
Boston’s Felix Doubront struck out a career-high 11 in seven innings and allowed one run, four hits and two walks. Junichi Tazawa (1-1) pitched the eighth and Baltimore loaded the bases in the ninth before Andrew Bailey retired Manny Machado on a fielder’s choice and struck out pinch hitter Ryan Flaherty for his sixth save.
Boston took a 1-0 lead in the fourth when Baltimore second baseman Robert Andino made a poor throw to first on a possible inning-ending double play grounder. The ball was blocked by Orioles first baseman Mark Reynolds and bounced away as Ross scored from the second.
The Orioles, who have a firm grasp on an AL wild-card spot, tied the contest in the top of the fifth when Lew Ford singled, moved to third on a double by Chris Davis and scored when Machado lofted a bloop single that barely eluded the grasp of Boston second baseman Pedro Ciriaco.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Boston defeated the Orioles at Fenway Park for just the second time in nine meetings this season. … Ross was 0-for-10 in the first two games of the series before a two-hit game in the finale. … Baltimore starter Chris Tillman allowed one run and six hits in six innings.