Red Sox 13, Orioles 2
Shane Victorino went 3-for-3 with two home runs, four runs scored and a career-high seven RBIs to back a strong start from Felix Doubront as host Boston took the opener of the three-game set.
Mike Napoli added a long home run and Dustin Pedroia doubled twice among three hits and drove in two runs for the first-place Red Sox, who moved 2 1/2 games ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East.
Doubront (10-6) struck out seven and allowed two runs on four hits in 6 2/3 innings. Victorino gave the left-hander the lead for good with a line-drive two-run shot into the first row of seats above the Green Monster in the third inning and sent a three-run blast to nearly the same spot in the fifth.
Boston did the bulk of its damage during a five-run fourth, starting when Napoli sent a towering solo home run over the left-field wall and onto the roof of the parking garage across the street. Pedroia slashed a bases-loaded ground-rule double to plate two more and Jonny Gomes drilled a two-run double off the center-field wall to cap the rally.
Wei-Yin Chen (7-7) was reached for most of the damage for the Orioles, allowing eight runs on eight hits in 3 2/3 innings. Brian Roberts and Manny Machado each recorded an RBI for Baltimore, which dropped 3 1/2 games behind the Oakland Athletics for the second AL wild-card spot.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Red Sox starters have allowed two or fewer runs in each of the last seven games. … The Orioles activated INF Wilson Betemit (right knee) from the disabled list and optioned INF Ryan Flaherty to Class-A Frederick. … Boston acquired OF Quintin Berry from the Kansas City Royals for RHP Clayton Mortensen.