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=BALTIMORE — Adrian Beltre homered to spark a five-run second inning, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-4 on Thursday night to salvage a .500 road trip.
David Ortiz drove in two runs and J.D. Drew had three hits for the Red Sox, who moved within 6 1/2 games of idle Tampa Bay in the AL wild-card race.
Boston dropped two of three on the road against the Rays, then lost in Baltimore on Tuesday before winning two straight. The Red Sox open a six-game homestand Friday against former teammate Manny Ramirez and the Chicago White Sox.
After missing his last start with a sore back, Daisuke Matsuzaka (9-4) gave up four runs in 5 2-3 innings. He has allowed four runs in each of his last four outings.
Jonathan Papelbon worked the ninth for his 35th save, and second in two nights. Baltimore got runners on second and third with one out before Papelbon struck out Cesar Izturis and rookie Josh Bell.
Papelbon is the only pitcher in major league history to record at least 35 saves in each of his first five seasons. In 38 career appearances against the Orioles, he has 30 saves and an 0.75 ERA.
Baltimore starter Brad Bergesen (6-10) gave up five runs, two earned, eight hits and a career-high five walks in 5 1-3 innings. He was 3-0 in six starts since July 26.
Down 5-0 and limited to two hits over the first five innings, the Orioles chased Matsuzaka with a four-run sixth.
Baseball
Red Sox beat O’s, win 3-game series
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Miners advance to state final
The Mountain Ridge Miners blanked Bohemia Manor, 3-0, in their Class 1A state semifinal late Wednesday night at McCurdy Field.
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Red Sox power past Orioles
Daniel Nava and Kelly Shoppach hit sixth-inning homers to turn a tie game in Boston’s favor, and the Red Sox withstood two home runs by Nick Johnson in a 6-5 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday.
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Hamels hurls Phillies over Nationals, 3-1
Cole Hamels pitched eight scoreless innings, finishing up by retiring Bryce Harper on a grounder as the Philadelphia Phillies snapped a season-long four-game losing streak Wednesday night with a 3-1 victory over the Washington Nationals.
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Ortiz leads Red Sox in comeback victory
David Ortiz homered in the sixth inning to start Boston's comeback from a three-run deficit, and the Red Sox got three hits from Will Middlebrooks in an 8-6 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.
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Salisbury loses in District playoffs
Evan Appleby hit a grand slam on top of throwing a complete game to lead McConnellsburg past Salisbury by a score of 14-3 in the first round of the Pennsylvania District 5 Playoffs.
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Jones’ dozen strikeouts leads Lakeview
Lakeview Auto Parts rallied for four runs in the top of the seventh and pitcher Trevon Jones struck out 12 in pitching a complete-game five-hitter in a 6-2 Hot Stove Baseball League win over previously undefeated Riverside Sports Monday at Bel Air Field.
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Strietbeck leads Mountain Ridge to region crown
Dan Strietbeck kept Manchester Valley’s bats quiet and Mountain Ridge scrapped its way to four runs to win the Maryland Class 1A West Region baseball title with a 4-1 victory Friday evening at McCurdy Field in Frederick.
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Harrison single ends Verlander no-hit bid in 9th
Justin Verlander came within two outs of his third no-hitter, allowing only Josh Harrison’s ninth-inning single in the Detroit’s 6-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.
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Wood gets final strikeout, retires after 13-plus seasons
Kerry Wood arrived in the majors 14 years ago, a fresh-faced kid with No. 34 on his back, slinging fastballs at 100 mph, delivering breaking pitches that were often unhittable and striking out 20 batters in just his fifth start.
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Miners upset Northern on Malone, Mills homers, 7-3
Mountain Ridge added three runs to a 4-3 lead during the top of the sixth inning to pull away from top-seeded Northern as the No. 2 Miners played their way into the Maryland 1A West Region finals with a 7-3 win Wednesday at Northern.
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Miners advance to state final
