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Orioles 4, Red Sox 2: Boston Drops Series Opener To Baltimore

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Ty Wigginton's sacrifice fly in the seventh drove in the game-winning run, and the resurgent Baltimore Orioles recorded consecutive wins at Fenway Park for the first time in more than five years with a 4-2 victory over the Red Sox.

 

Luke Scott added two hits and drove in two runs for the Orioles, who last won two straight in Boston during a four-game streak from September 23, 2004-May 30, 2005. Since Buck Showalter took over in Baltimore, the team is 28-17, including wins in 12 of its last 19 road games.

Brian Matusz turned in another solid outing, allowing just one run on three hits and three walks in five frames. The lefty has allowed seven earned runs in his last 33 innings pitched (1.91 ERA) over six starts. David Hernandez (8- 8) received the win after allowing a run in two frames, and Koji Uehara earned his 10th save.

"I was actually happy to go five innings after throwing almost 40 pitches in the first inning," Matusz said. "I never want to have an inning like that where you throw that many pitches. I was able to make the adjustments I needed to, and I went as far as I could."

Victor Martinez went 3-for-4 with an RBI for the Red Sox, who have lost three of four and remain on the fringe of playoff contention. Daisuke Matsuzaka (9-6) was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs, six hits and five walks in 6 1/3 frames.

"We just didn't have a lot to show (offensively)," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "We had some real good at-bats early, really got his pitch count up...but didn't do anything after that."

After the Red Sox tied the game in the sixth, the Orioles went ahead for good in the seventh.

Brian Roberts walked with one out, and Nick Markakis followed with a double down the left-field line, sending Roberts to third. Daniel Bard entered from the bullpen, but couldn't prevent the go-ahead run, as Wigginton lofted a sacrifice fly to deep left for a 3-2 contest.

Scott followed with an RBI single to right for a key insurance run.

Jim Johnson pitched a scoreless eighth for the O's to get to Uehara, who retired the side in order to polish off the win.

Scott got Baltimore on the board with a sacrifice fly in the first inning, but Martinez answered with an RBI single to tie the game in the home half.

An error put the Orioles ahead in the fourth.

Matt Wieters walked leading off and moved to second on Felix Pie's one-out single. Cesar Izturis grounded a ball to Martinez at first, and he sailed his throw to second into left field, allowing Wieters to score the go-ahead run.

The Red Sox had another answer in the sixth. With Hernandez on the mound, Mike Lowell worked a one-out walk and went to second when Jed Lowrie was hit by a pitch. Bill Hall followed with a base hit just over the outstretched glove of the second baseman Roberts to plate Lowell with the tying run.

The season series is tied, 8-8...The Orioles have won 11 of 15 overall and on each of the last five Mondays...Martinez has a 12-game home hit streak.