Red Sox turn tables on Birds

After record-setting comeback, O’s lose 5-1 lead in 9th, lose in 11

BALTIMORE — For a second straight game, Jonathan Papelbon unexpectedly found himself in position to become Boston’s career saves leader.

Less than 24 hours earlier, Papelbon was victimized by the greatest comeback in Baltimore Orioles history. On Wednesday, after the Red Sox staged an improbable rally of their own, Papelbon got his 20th save of the season and 133rd with the Red Sox, breaking the team record set by Bob Stanley.

Tuesday night, Papelbon yielded the key hit in the eighth inning of a game in which Boston’s bullpen blew a 10-1 lead before losing 11-10.

In this one, Red Sox pitchers retired the final 24 batters. Ty Wigginton hit a leadoff homer in the fourth off Josh Beckett to put the Orioles up 5-1, but that would be Baltimore’s final baserunner.

“I thought today was a great opportunity for our bullpen to come show the league what we’re really made of,” Papelbon said. “I think we answered that with flying colors.”

Daniel Bard struck out four in two innings and Ramon Ramirez (5-2) worked the 10th before Papelbon disposed of the Orioles with 18 effective pitches.

Baltimore starter Brad Bergesen gave up one run, struck out six, walked none and permitted only two runners past first base in eight innings. He was pulled after 103 pitches and with Baltimore comfortably ahead.

Then came the Boston ninth, when the Red Sox tied it against the Orioles’ best two relievers. Kevin Youkilis hit a two-run homer off Jim Johnson before George Sherrill entered and immediately struck out Jason Bay and David Ortiz. Sherrill then allowed a single and two walks to load the bases for pinch-hitter Rocco Baldelli, who grounded a single up the middle to make it 5-5.

In the 11th, Jacoby Ellsbury hit a leadoff double off Danys Baez (4-2) and scored when Lugo bounced a one-out single to left past the drawn-in infield.

Cubs 4, Pirates 1

PITTSBURGH — Derrek Lee and Kosuke Fukudome homered to support Randy Wells’ seven effective innings and the Cubs won another series from Pittsburgh.

Chicago has won eight of its last nine series against the last-place Pirates dating to the teams’ final matchup in 2007, sweeping them four times. The Cubs have won 21 of their last 27 overall against the Pirates.

Wells (3-3), given a 2-0 lead on Lee’s two-run drive three batters into the game, gave a run back on Andrew McCutchen’s double and Brandon Moss’ RBI single in the bottom of the inning, but didn’t permit the Pirates anything after that. Wells struck out four and walked one, allowing only one runner to reach third after the first.

Marlins 5, Nationals 3

MIAMI — Hanley Ramirez extended his RBI streak to 10 games, pinch-hitter Wes Helms beat out a potential double-play ball to put Florida ahead in the eighth inning.

Cody Ross hit his 14th home run and added an RBI single in the eighth for Florida, now 9-0 against Washington this season and 25-3 against the Nationals since September 2007.

Ramirez hit a two-run double, making him the first shortstop in NL history with an RBI streak of double-digit games.

Josh Willingham was 2 for 4 with a two-run single for Washington.

, which stranded 13 runners.

Yankees 4, Mariners 2

NEW YORK — Alex Rodriguez hit a tiebreaking homer, Andy Pettitte (8-3) pitched seven strong innings and the Yankees beat the Mariners for their seventh consecutive victory.

Johnny Damon and Melky Cabrera also went deep for the Yankees on a blustery night in the Bronx. New York overcame Ken Griffey Jr.’s 621st home run, winning its 10th straight home game against Seattle since Sept. 4, 2007.

Mariano Rivera saved his third game in a row, increasing his career total to 502.

Braves 11, Phillies 1

ATLANTA — Jair Jurrjens allowed his first hit with two outs in the seventh inning on a night the Braves finally gave him some run support, beating the reeling Philadelphia Phillies 11-1 on Wednesday.

Jurrjens (6-6) began the night with the seventh-lowest run support in the majors, including only five runs in his last four losses. That lack of support ended as the Braves scored seven runs off Cole Hamels (4-5), who left the game after giving up three hits and a walk in the fifth.

Matt Diaz added a two-run homer and Diory Hernandez hit his first major league homer, each off Tyler Walker in the six-run fifth inning. Diaz had three hits.

Mets 1, Brewers 0

MILWAUKEE — Mike Pelfrey bailed the Mets out of a season-worst losing streak, overcoming a career-high 12 strikeouts by young Milwaukee ace Yovani Gallardo.

Pelfrey (6-3) gave up six hits and two walks in 7 2-3 scoreless innings and Ryan Church came through with an RBI single in the sixth as the Mets stopped a five-game losing streak and avoided a series sweep by the Brewers.

Gallardo (8-5) gave up five hits in seven innings.

Blue Jays 5, Rays 0

TORONTO — Ricky Romero pitched four-hit ball over eight innings, Rod Barajas, Adam Lind and Scott Rolen each homered and the Blue Jays ended the Rays’ seven-game winning streak.

Romero (6-3),who took a no-hitter into the seventh in his last start, matched the longest outing of his career in winning his third straight start. He walked four, struck out seven and lowered his ERA to 2.85. Romero allowed just two hits through the first six innings.

Toronto snapped a four game losing streak thanks to a trio of solo home runs off James Shields (6-6).

Dodgers 1, Rockies 0

LOS ANGELES — Rafael Furcal had a pinch hit, RBI single in the eighth inning, helping the Dodgers beat the Rockies in the final game of Manny Ramirez’s 50-game drug suspension.

The Dodgers were 29-21 during Ramirez’s absence. The 12-time All-Star, who needs three home runs to tie Mickey Mantle for 15th place on the career list at 536, will return to the lineup Friday night for the start of a three-game series at San Diego.

Brad Ausmus led off the eighth with a single against Rockies starter Jason Hammel (5-4) and advanced on Juan Castro’s sacrifice. Russell Martin ran for Ausmus and scored when Furcal stroked a single to right field on the right-hander’s 100th pitch while batting for reliever Ramon Troncoso (2-0).

Athletics 5, Tigers 1

OAKLAND, Calif. — Jason Giambi and Jack Cust broke out of funks with two-run homers, Dallas Braden ended a four-start winless stretch and the Athletics beat the Tigers.

Giambi’s drive in the sixth off Justin Verlander (8-4) was home run No. 407, tying him with Duke Snider for 43rd place. Giambi, who has been dealing with sore legs and entered the game with an American League-low .197 batting average, was in a 2-for-28 stretch before the homer after striking out in his first two at-bats.

Twins 5, Royals 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Joe Mauer went 3-for-3, raising his average to .392 and backing pitcher Glen Perkins in Minnesota’s victory over the Royals.

After walking in the first inning, Mauer stroked three consecutive singles, driving in one run and scoring another as the Twins completed a 6-3 trip that began in Milwaukee and St. Louis. He was walked intentionally in the eighth.

Mauer’s average would lead the major leagues but his 240 plate appearances are eight shy of the 3.1 per game he needs to qualify.

Perkins (4-4) allowed one run for the second straight start, scattering 10 hits in seven innings. Joe Nathan got the final out for his 21st save in 23 opportunities, and his 32nd in 35 chances against Kansas City.

Kansas City’s Billy Butler was 4-for-4 with two singles and two doubles. He doubled home the Royals’ run in the sixth.