G96: Red Sox 7, Orioles 2

Orioles - 000 200 000 - 2 10  0
Red Sox - 310 100 02x - 7 10  1

David Ortiz clubbed a three-run home run to dead center in the first and Adam LaRoche went the other way in the eighth for a two-run Monster dong to lead Boston to victory. Lester (7.1-8-2-2-9, 109) had another strong outing and the Red Sox are now 1.5 GB in the East.

Other good hitting news: Jacoby Ellsbury had two doubles and two RBI and Jason Bay singled, doubled and walked. Daniel Bard (.2 IP) and Ramon Ramirez (1 IP), both of whom have had little work since the break, finished up for Lester.
Jeremy Guthrie (5.12, 89 ERA+) / Jon Lester (3.87, 120 ERA+)

Adam LaRoche will likely get his first start in a Red Sox uniform tonight.

[Update: He's at first base, batting 7th, wearing #23. However, Kevin Youkilis has the night off, so Mike Lowell remains at third.]

LaRoche, on his expected playing time:

I've talked with Tito a little bit, but we haven't discussed whether it's going to be a platoon situation, or once a week, or never, or every day. I have no idea. I told Tito that I'm pretty easy, and I'm not going to complain much. You tell me when you want me to play, and I'll be out there.

And:

To come over and play for this club and have a chance to move forward in the playoffs is something that, when it happened my first two years in Atlanta [2004-05], I think I took it for granted. We haven't been anywhere close the last few years with Pittsburgh. I can handle not playing as much if we have a chance to play in October.

Lester has allowed three earned runs or fewer in each of his past nine starts. He has not allowed an earned run to the Orioles this year: seven shutout inning on both April 19 and June 29. ... Guthrie has given up 22 home runs this year, the most in the American League; he's actually tied with Joe Saunders. ... In five games since returning from the DL, Mike Lowell has hit .412 (7-for-17).

Also: A's/Yankees at 1 PM.