Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Nick Markakis' run-scoring single in the 11th inning lifted Baltimore to a 4-3 win over Boston, snapping the Orioles' 10- game losing streak and giving Juan Samuel his first victory as the team's manager.
The Orioles blew a one-run lead in the ninth inning, when Dustin Pedroia's sacrifice fly made it a 3-3 game. But in the 11th against Hideki Okajima (2-2), Cesar Izturis worked a leadoff walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt.
Okajima intentionally walked Miguel Tejada before Markakis blooped a single into center, and Izturis raced around to score and gave Baltimore the win. It was the Orioles' first victory since May 25 against Oakland and first for Samuel, who was named the club's interim manager when Dave Trembley was fired Friday.
David Hernandez (2-5) got the victory for throwing two scoreless relief innings. The Orioles' bullpen had thrown more than 17 innings over the last four games and needed to turn in more innings Sunday in relief of Brian Matusz, who threw 117 pitches in 5 2/3 innings. The left-hander limited Boston to two runs on four hits while walking four and struck out seven.
Matt Albers, Mark Hendrickson and Jason Berken combined to hold the Red Sox off the scoreboard through the eighth inning, keeping it a 2-2 game, as Boston starter John Lackey allowed two runs in seven innings.
But in the home eighth, Baltimore plated a run against Manny Delcarmen. After Luke Scott worked a leadoff walk, Adam Jones bunted into a fielder's choice and ended up at first. Scott Moore followed with a double to right, plating Jones for a 3-2 lead.
Will Ohman entered for Baltimore in the top of the ninth and got into immediate trouble, giving up a leadoff single to Mike Cameron, who moved to second on a sacrifice and reached third on a single through the left side by Marco Scutaro.
Cameron scored when Pedroia lofted a ball to center, tying the game, and made a big defensive play in the bottom half to send it to extra innings.
After Ty Wigginton worked a walk against Jonathan Papelbon with two outs, Montanez scorched a ball to center. However, Cameron tracked the deep fly and made an over-the-shoulder catch to end the inning.
Hernandez and Okajima each pitched a scoreless 10th, and Hernandez worked around a one-out single by Darnell McDonald in the 11th to keep it a 3-3 game moving to the bottom half.
The only scoring for the majority of the game happened in the second inning. Victor Martinez hit a two-run homer for the Red Sox, and the Orioles loaded the bases with one out in the bottom half. Izturis hit an RBI single, and another run scored when Julio Lugo grounded into a fielder's choice at second.
Lackey allowed seven hits, walked three and struck out two...Martinez finished 2-for-3, the only Red Sox player with multiple hits...Moore and Scott each had two hits for Baltimore, which scored 16 runs during its losing streak...Hendrickson faced one batter in the seventh, hitting David Ortiz before Berken replaced him...Despite the win, the Orioles won for only the fourth time in their last 21 games. They have not won consecutive games since a three-game run from May 12-14 and will attempt to make it two in a row on Tuesday in the start of a three-game home series against the Yankees...The Orioles lead the season series with Boston, 5-4...The Red Sox are back in action Monday, when they begin a four-game series at Cleveland.