The Boston Red Sox started slow against the Baltimore Orioles, showing the effects of their early-morning, 16-inning 1-0 victory over Tampa that ended just 17 hours earlier.
But it didn't take them long to wake up.
Boston spotted Baltimore a 2-0 lead in the first inning before scoring three in the third inning, two in the fourth and one in the sixth, going up 6-2 before allowing five runs in the bottom of the fifth to fall behind, 7-6.
An eight-run eighth inning righted the ship, putting Boston up 15-7 and the Sox held off Baltimore the rest of the way to earn their third straight win.
The 15-run output tied for Boston's highest on the season, which was more impressive considering Boston played without designated hitter David Ortiz, serving the first of a three-game reduced suspension for his role in a benches-clearing brawl when Baltimore was in Boston just ten days earlier.
Save for the struggling J.D. Drew, every member of the Boston lineup had a hit including pinch-hitter Darnell Mcdonald, and only Drew and Marco Scutaro failed to drive in a run for the Red Sox. Everyone but Drew scored at least once for Boston.
Dustin Pedroia extended his hitting streak to an AL-best 16 games, going 2-for-5 on the night, with three RBI and a run scored.
Carl Crawford returned from a month-long stay on the disabled list, going 2-for-5 as well, with two runs scored and an RBI.
Jacoby Ellsbury, batting leadoff but getting the night off in the field, had three hits in four at-bats, scoring three times.
Tim Wakefield had another tough outing, allowing seven runs on nine hits in 4.2 innings, but Dan Wheeler was strong in relief, not allowing a run or hit in 2.1 innings, walking just one.
Brad Bergesen gave up eight runs in five innings, but Baltimore's real problem was its bullpen, which allowed nine runs in four innings. Two relievers - Jason Berken and Mark Worrell - didn't record an out before getting the hook.