G153: Red Sox 5, Orioles 3

Red Sox - 120 010 100 - 5  9  0
Orioles - 003 000 000 - 3  6  1

It seemed like David Price was never fully comfortable on the mound, taking more time than usual between pitches, but he gave the Red Sox a solid outing (7-6-3-2-5, 99). Over his last four innings, Price allowed only one hit and one walk.

Koji Uehara and Craig Kimbrel pitched one inning of relief apiece, both relievers striking out two batters. They have become a dominating duo out of the bullpen. Uehara has faced 27 batters since returning to the team and retired 22 of them, including 10 by strikeout. Kimbrel is 12-for-12 in save chances since coming off the disabled list and has not allowed a run in his last 16 games.

It was the Red Sox's eighth straight win, their longest streak of the season. They also pulled off the feat of sweeping consecutive four-game series for the first time since July 1-7, 1968 when they beat Oakland 3-0, 4-3, 4-3 (11) and 7-2, then swept the Twins 4-2, 4-2, 4-3, and 6-3. The Red Sox lead the East by 5.5 games over Toronto. The Red Sox now head to Tampa Bay for a weekend series against the last-place Rays.

The Red Sox battered Chris Tillman (1.2-5-3-3-2, 63), who recorded only five outs. With two down in the first, Mookie Betts grounded a single to center. David Ortiz drew a full-count walk and Hanley Ramirez singled up the middle for one run.

Jackie Bradley began the second with his seventh triple of the year, a rope into the right field corner. Sandy Leon singled him home with a first-pitch hit to right. Tillman retired Andrew Benintendi and Dustin Pedroia, but he gave up a single to Brock Holt and walked Betts and Ortiz, the last free pass bringing in Boston's third run, and ending his night.

Price also worked with men on base in the early innings. He allowed a two-out single in the first and a two-out single and walk in the second. In the third, Chris Davis and Manny Machado both singled with one out. After Mark Trumbo struck out, Trey Mancini hit a three-run homer to deep left, tying the game.

Boston left eight men on base over the first four innings, including two in the fourth. Travis Shaw opened the fifth with a walk and, after Vance Worley recorded two strikeouts, went to second on a wild pitch. Benintendi's hard single to right scored Shaw, giving the Red Sox a 4-3 lead, but the throw home was cut off and Benintendi was out trying to advance to second.

Baltimore's only threat after the third inning came in the sixth when Mancini doubled to lead off the frame. Price did not buckle, though, and retired the next three batters, on a grounder to third, a fly to center, and a strikeout.

Ramirez gave the Red Sox a bit of insurance with an opposite-field dong in the seventh. ... Betts and Ortiz each reached base three times, on a single and two walks.

David Price / Chris Tillman

Pedroia, 2B
Holt, SS
Betts, RF
Ortiz, DH
Ramirez, 1B
Shaw, 3B
Bradley, CF
Leon, C
Benintendi, LF

Elias reports that the Red Sox's seven consecutive victories over division opponents (the Yankees and Orioles, in this case) ties the franchise's longest such streak in a single season in the last 26 years. Since 1991, the only other time the Red Sox won seven consecutive games against AL East teams was in 2003.

Boston's magic number for winning the AL East is 6 with 10 games to play.

BOS --- 
TOR 5.0
BAL 6.0