The Boston Red Sox moved into a first-place tie atop the American League East with the New York Yankees following their 7-5 road win over the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night.
Boston’s seven runs were as many as it scored in the previous three games against the Tampa Bay Rays combined.
The Sox are now 3-2 against the Orioles this season and 6-4 away from Fenway Park. Here’s a recap of Boston’s win.
GAME IN A WORD
Power.
The Red Sox scored all seven of their runs via the long ball. David Ortiz and Brock Holt both hit three-run homers, while Hanley Ramirez blasted a solo shot.
The Orioles scored three of their five runs on homers by Jimmy Paredes and Chris Davis.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Holt’s three-run homer in the eighth inning gave Boston’s bullpen enough of a cushion to secure the victory.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— Paredes hit a two-run homer on a 2-2 slider from Rick Porcello to open the scoring in the fourth inning.
— Ortiz hit a splitter to right field and into the second row for a three-run homer that gave Boston a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning. It was Ortiz’s fourth home run of the season. Ramirez hit his sixth home run of the year on the very next pitch. It was the first time the Red Sox had gone back-to-back this campaign.
— Everth Cabrera pulled the Orioles within one run with an RBI single in the sixth inning. He tied the game 4-4 in the eighth inning with a sacrifice fly deep to left field.
— Brock Holt ended an 0-for-11 slump with a single in the seventh inning. He gave the Red Sox a 7-4 lead with a three-run homer in the eighth inning.
— Mookie Betts went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. His last multi-hit game was April 13.
— Pablo Sandoval reached base safely three times with two hits and a walk.
— Chris Davis went 1-for-3 with a solo homer, a walk and two runs scored.
ON THE BUMP
— Porcello began the game in fine fashion with five straight strikeouts. He threw 97 pitches through six innings and gave up six hits, four earned runs and struck out seven. Porcello didn’t factor into the decision.
— Orioles starter Miguel Gonzalez pitched six innings and gave up eight hits, four earned runs and struck out one.
— Red Sox reliever Craig Breslow entered the game in the seventh inning. He walked one batter and allowed a run to score on Cabrera’s sac fly. The run was charged to Porcello, who departed earlier in the inning without recording an out. Alexi Ogando relieved Breslow and got out of a bases loaded jam by striking out Manny Machado.
— The Orioles’ bullpen didn’t pitch well. After 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief from Tommy Hunter, Brian Matusz and Darren O’Day combined to give up three earned runs in 1/3 of an inning. Matusz took the loss.
— Red Sox closer Koji Uehara pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his third save of the season.
TWEET OF THE GAME
Ortiz continues to climb the all-time RBI leaderboard.
[tweet https://twitter.com/Shesta_Sox/status/591763705743966208 align=”center”]
UP NEXT
The Red Sox and Orioles continue their three-game series Saturday night. Justin Masteron (Boston) and Wei-Yin Chen (Baltimore) are the probable starting pitchers.
Thumbnail photo via Tommy Gilligan/USA TODAY Sports Images
