Final, Red Sox 4-3: Koji Uehara tossed a 1-2-3 ninth inning to complete the come-from-behind win.
Dustin Pedroia tied the score at three apiece in the seventh inning with a two-run single. Mike Carp then delivered a pinch-hit RBI single in the eighth inning to give Boston a 4-3 lead that it wouldn’t relinquish.
John Lackey didn’t factor in the decision, although he once again battled hard for the Sox. Lackey gave up three runs on seven hits in 7 1/3 innings of work before handing the ball over to Craig Breslow, who earned the victory.
The Red Sox are now a season-high 24 games over .500 at 79-55. They also guaranteed their MLB-best 27th series win with Wednesday’s victory and have a chance to complete a sweep of the Orioles on Thursday.
Jon Lester will take the ball in Thursday’s finale, which is scheduled to start up at 7:10 p.m. He’ll go up against Chris Tillman, who has given the Red Sox fits this season.
Good night, everyone.
End 8th, Red Sox 4-3: The Red Sox came up with some two-out magic in the eighth inning, and Koji Uehara will now enter with a one-run lead.
Brian Matusz struck out Daniel Nava to begin the eighth. Tommy Hunter then took over and struck out Mike Napoli for the second out.
The third out was much more elusive.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia peppered the left field wall with a two-out double to keep the inning alive. He missed a go-ahead home run by a few feet.
The Orioles then opted to intentionally walk Stephen Drew to get to rookie Xander Bogaerts, at which point John Farrell turned to his bench. Farrell called upon Mike Carp, who dropped an RBI single into left field. Manny Machado sprawled out for it, but the ball sailed just out of his reach.
Uehara now enters the game riding a 20 2/3-scoreless-inning streak.
Mid 8th, 3-3: John Lackey recorded the first out of the top of the eighth inning. Craig Breslow took care of the final two outs.
Lackey came back out to face Manny Machado in the eighth, and he retired the talented third baseman on a popup to Machado’s counterpart down at the hot corner.
Lackey was then replaced by Breslow, who struck out Chris Davis on a pitch up and in. (Davis knocked in Baltimore’s first run with a first-inning double, and he added to the Orioles’ total with a monster homer in the sixth inning.) The inning ended with Adam Jones lining out to short.
The Red Sox are scheduled to send up Daniel Nava, Mike Napoli and Jarrod Saltalamacchia in the bottom of the eighth. Brian Matusz will start the inning, although Tommy Hunter has been warming up in the Orioles’ bullpen.
Lackey gave up three runs on seven hits in his 7 1/3 innings of work. He struck out four, walked one and surrendered two long balls while throwing 92 pitches (68 strikes).
I’ll also keep you posted on any updates regarding Jacoby Ellsbury, who fouled a ball off his foot in the seventh inning and was replaced defensively before the eighth inning.
End 7th, 3-3: David Ortiz flied out with Dustin Pedroia on second base to end the seventh inning. The Red Sox did enough damage to tie things up, though.
Unfortunately for Boston, the rally came at a price. Jacoby Ellsbury fouled a ball off his foot during his seventh-inning at-bat. He stayed in the game and scored the tying run from second base on Pedroia’s two-out single, but he’ll now be replaced.
Jonny Gomes will enter the game for Ellsbury. He’ll play left field and bat first. Shane Victorino will shift to center field, and Daniel Nava will shift over to right field.
John Lackey is coming back out to begin the eighth inning.
9:35 p.m., 3-3:Â Dustin Pedroia just delivered a huge hit.
Shane Victorino lined out to second base for the second out. Darren O’Day couldn’t get the best of Pedroia, though.
Pedroia ripped a single into left field. Stephen Drew scored easily from third base and Jacoby Ellsbury, who stole second base during Victorino’s at-bat, hustled all the way around to tie the game.
Pedroia took second base on Nate McLouth’s throw, and David Ortiz will face Brian Matusz with two outs.
9:29 p.m., Orioles 3-1: The Red Sox are threatening in the seventh inning.
Stephen Drew led off with a double into the right field corner. Then, after Xander Bogaerts lined out sharply to second base, Jacoby Ellsbury singled up the middle.
The O’s will now bring in Darren O’Day with runners at the corners and one out. His first opponent will be Boston’s hottest hitter, Shane Victorino.
Mid 7th, Orioles 3-1: John Lackey has been hit hard a few times, but he still battled his way through seven innings.
Brian Roberts reached for the third time via a two-out single in the seventh inning, but Lackey rebounded to retire Nate McLouth.
Francisco Rodriguez, who needed just one pitch to record the final two outs of the sixth inning, will be back out to begin the bottom of the seventh.
End 6th, Orioles 3-1: Chris Davis is doing it with both L’s: lumber and leather.
The Orioles turned to Francisco Rodriguez with one out in the sixth inning, and K-Rod needed just one pitch to induce an inning-ending double play. Chris Davis, who homered in the top half of the inning, made an excellent pick down at first base before firing to second base to start up the twin killing.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia was the man victimized by the nifty glove work.
Daniel Nava started the sixth inning with a sinking line drive that dropped just in front of a sliding Nate McLouth in left-center field. Bud Norris exited the game after striking out Mike Napoli.
Norris gave up one run on four hits in his 5 1/3 innings of work. He struck out seven and walked four while throwing 105 pitches (59 strikes).
Mid 6th, Orioles 3-1: Chris Davis added to his MLB-leading home run total in the sixth inning.
Davis absolutely smoked a deep fly ball to right-center field. It bounced off a railing over the Red Sox’ bullpen and into the bleachers for Crush’s 47th home run of the season.
Davis now has 22 homers against AL East opponents this season, which is the most by a player against his division — just ahead of Evan Longoria (20), Edwin Encarnacion (19) and Miguel Cabrera (16). Davis is also the third player in Orioles history to eclipse the 46-homer mark. Only Brady Anderson (50 in 1996) and Frank Robinson (49 in 1966) have had more in a single season for the O’s.
Davis’ bomb led off the sixth inning. John Lackey rebounded to retire Adam Jones, Nick Markakis and J.J. Hardy in order.
End 5th, Orioles 2-1: David Ortiz has hit a couple of long outs.
Ortiz flied out to the warning track in his first at-bat, and he did the same in his third at-bat, although neither flyout posed much of a threat.
Jacoby Ellsbury flied out to left field and Shane Victorino grounded out to short before Dustin Pedroia walked with two down in the fifth inning. Pedroia has now walked twice in his three plate appearances.
Ortiz then lifted a fly ball down toward the left field corner. Nate McLouth raced over and made the grab a few steps in front of the wall.
Mid 5th, Orioles 2-1:Â John Lackey yielded a one-out single to Brian Roberts before finishing off the fifth inning.
Lackey, who struck out Wilson Betemit to begin the fifth, induced a couple of flyouts for the second and third outs of the inning.
The Red Sox will send up the top of the order in the home half of the frame.
End 4th, Orioles 2-1: Nothing doing in the fourth inning.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia yanked a one-out single into right field with the outfield playing deep, but that was all for the Red Sox’ offense.
Mike Napoli began the inning with a ground ball down to Manny Machado at third base. After Salty’s single, Bud Norris struck out Stephen Drew looking and retired Xander Bogaerts on a sharp grounder into the hole.
Norris now has six strikeouts, and Red Sox hitters have had a few long conversations with home plate umpire Marvin Hudson.
Mid 4th, Orioles 2-1: Nick Markakis dented the Green Monster, but not the scoreboard.
John Lackey snagged an Adam Jones comebacker to begin the fourth inning. Markakis fared better against Lackey, drilling a line-drive double off the wall in left-center field.
Lackey made sure that Markakis didn’t go anywhere. The right-hander struck out J.J. Hardy and retired Matt Wieters on a flyout. It looked initially like Wieters’ liner had the left field corner written all over it, but it hung up long enough for Daniel Nava to track it down on the run.
End 3rd, Orioles 2-1: The Red Sox now have a run next to their name. They had an opportunity for much more, though.
Shane Victorino, who was Boston’s offensive hero Tuesday, drove in the Red Sox’ first run with a single up the middle. Bud Norris then buckled down to keep Baltimore’s lead intact.
Stephen Drew walked to lead off the third inning, and Jacoby Ellsbury made it first and second with a line-drive single into left field. In between, Xander Bogaerts drilled a sinking line drive that hung up just long enough for Adam Jones to make a shoe-top grab in left-center.
Victorino followed Ellsbury’s single by shooting a ball into center field. The Flyin’ Hawaiian is now 17 for his last 38.
Norris walked Dustin Pedroia to load the bases, but then exited the inning by striking out David Ortiz and Daniel Nava. Ortiz, who flied out to the warning track in his first at-bat, struck out swinging. Nava went down looking on a pitch on the inside corner, and he has now struck out twice in this game.
Mid 3rd, Orioles 2-0: Jarrod Saltalamacchia gunned down Brian Roberts, who tried to steal third base. Manny Machado then took it upon himself to make sure Baltimore still came away from the third inning with a run.
Roberts opened the third inning with a walk, and he subsequently stole second base on a close play. John Lackey gave Roberts plenty of attention at second base, attempting two unsuccessful pickoffs before Roberts took off for third. When Roberts finally did take off, Saltalamacchia was ready for it. The Boston backstop delivered a strike down to Xander Bogaerts, and Bogaerts slapped down the tag.
Machado went deep on the next pitch. He absolutely crushed a home run over the Monster seats to double Baltimore’s lead.
Chris Davis, who drove in the Orioles’ first run, flied out to right field to end the inning.
It’s also worth noting that Bogaerts has called off Saltalamacchia on two separate popups in foul territory in this game. He made the play in both instances, but the plays didn’t exactly come easy.
End 2nd, Orioles 1-0: Bud Norris saw John Lackey’s two second-inning strikeouts and raised him one.
Norris struck out the side in the second inning. Daniel Nava, Mike Napoli and Jarrod Saltalamacchia were all victimized by Norris’ nifty mound work.
Nava and Napoli went down swinging, while Salty failed to unload on a 3-2 fastball.
Mid 2nd, Orioles 1-0: John Lackey did a nice job of settling down in the second inning.
Lackey struck out J.J. Hardy and Matt Wieters to start things off. Both hitters chased pitches out of the strike zone, as Lackey went with cutters just off the dirt in both instances.
Wilson Betemit followed with solid contact, but Shane Victorino sized it up and made the play in right field.
End 1st, Orioles 1-0: Bud Norris walked Jacoby Ellsbury to lead off the bottom of the first inning. As dangerous as that is, Norris survived the free pass unharmed.
Ellsbury walked on eight pitches, and then recorded his MLB-best 48th stolen base of the season.
Shane Victorino drilled a line drive after Ellsbury moved up. It was right at shortstop J.J. Hardy, though.
Norris made the play of the inning when Dustin Pedroia hit a dribbler to the third base side of the mound. Norris ran over, barehanded it and fired to first in one motion. Chris Davis scooped the ball out of the dirt to complete the out.
David Ortiz nearly put Boston on the scoreboard, as he lifted a fly ball to deep left field. Nate McLouth drifted back to make the grab on the warning track.
Mid 1st, Orioles 1-0: In case you haven’t heard, Chris Davis is having a pretty good year.
Davis, who leads the American League with 46 home runs, picked up RBI No. 119 in the first inning. The Orioles lead 1-0.
Manny Machado hit a chopper over the mound with one out in the first inning. Stephen Drew charged it and delivered a strong throw to first, but Machado just beat it out.
Davis followed Machado’s infield single with a line drive down the right field line. It rolled into the corner as Machado scored and Davis cruised into second base with a one-out double.
Adam Jones threatened to add more by hammering a fly ball to deep center. Jacoby Ellsbury drifted back to make the play, though, and John Lackey escaped the inning without any further damage by getting Nick Markakis to hit a little popup.
7:11 p.m.: It’s 65 degrees at Fenway. John Lackey misses up high for a ball, and we’re underway.
7:02 p.m.: It’s rather overcast at Fenway Park at the moment. There’s a lot of fog in the air. Just figured I’d let you know.
6:41 p.m.: The Red Sox’ starting pitching was excellent during their their West Coast road trip. The success carried over into Tuesday’s series opener at Fenway, as Felix Doubront pitched well.
Red Sox pitchers have now yielded two runs or fewer in each of their last five games while compiling a 1.64 ERA in that span. The Red Sox haven’t surrendered two runs or fewer in six straight games since 1978.
Check out BostonFanFavorites.com for more comparisons to old Red Sox teams.
6:24 p.m.: It’s been pretty obvious this season that Shane Victorino is banged up. He won’t reveal exactly how banged up, though. Instead, he just keeps producing.
Victorino on Tuesday became the first player in Red Sox history to go 3-for-3 or better with at least two homers, four runs and seven RBIs in a game, according to Elias. He now has four home runs in his last six games and a team-high six homers in August.
6:05 p.m.: Clay Buchholz will make another rehab start Friday. Buchholz, who threw 38 pitches with Short-A Lowell on Sunday, is scheduled to throw 50-55 pitches with Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday.
If all goes well Friday, Buchholz is expected to make one more rehab start next Wednesday. He’ll likely throw around 70 pitches in that outing.
If there are no hiccups over his next two rehab starts, Buchholz could be activated in time to face the Rays on Sept. 10.
5:25 p.m.: Xander Bogaerts will be in the Red Sox’ starting lineup Wednesday.
There was some debate as to whether Bogaerts should have started Tuesday’s game, as the Orioles had a left-hander on the mound. But John Farrell opted to go with a Stephen Drew-Will Middlebrooks combo on the left side of the infield instead, and it’s hard to argue with the overall results. Middlebrooks had two hits and Drew walked twice in Boston’s blowout win.
Bogaerts will bat ninth and play third base Wednesday with Middlebrooks out of the lineup. Daniel Nava will bat out of the Red Sox’ fluctuating No. 5 spot.
Wednesday’s complete lineups are below.
Red Sox (78-55)
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Shane Victorino, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Daniel Nava, LF
Mike Napoli, 1B
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Stephen Drew, SS
Xander Bogaerts, 3B
John Lackey, RHP (8-11, 3.17 ERA)
Orioles (70-60)
Nate McLouth, LF
Manny Machado, 3B
Chris Davis, 1B
Adam Jones, CF
Nick Markakis, RF
J.J. Hardy, SS
Matt Wieters, C
Wilson Betemit, DH
Brian Roberts, 2B
Bud Norris, RHP (3-1, 5.53 ERA)
8 a.m. ET: The Red Sox really know how to kick off a homestand in style.
The Sox, who returned home after a six-game West Coast swing, rolled over the Orioles 13-2 in the first of nine straight games at Fenway Park. Shane Victorino powered the offense with a pair of home runs and a career-high seven RBIs.
John Lackey will head to the hill Wednesday. He went the distance his last time out against the Dodgers, but was outdueled by Ricky Nolasco as Los Angeles blanked Boston on Friday. Lackey will go up against Bud Norris, whom the Orioles acquired just before the trade deadline.
If the Red Sox are able to win Wednesday, they’ll move to 24 games over .500, which would match a season high. Boston hasn’t been 25 games over .500 since Sept. 13, 2011, at which point the Sox moved to 86-61 with a win. The Red Sox can also add to their major league-best 26 series wins with a victory Wednesday.
Wednesday’s first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET. Be sure to tune in on NESN, and keep it right here with NESN.com’s live blog.
