Adam Jones Powers Orioles Past Red Sox 8-3
BOSTON (AP) The Baltimore Orioles lost a couple of quality hitters to free agency during the offseason.
It won't matter much if Adam Jones keeps up this pace.
Jones went 4 for 5 with a three-run double and two-run homer to match his career high with five RBIs, carrying the Orioles past the Boston Red Sox 8-3 on Sunday.
"I think Adam welcomes the responsibility of being a guy that his teammates and his organization count on," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "I don't think that ever changes for him."
During the offseason, the defending AL East champs lost Nick Markakis to Atlanta and Nelson Cruz signed with Seattle.
"They're still going to pitch me the same way. I've just got to try and get a fastball and not miss it," Jones said. "They're not going to pitch me any different because of the personnel. They're going to pitch me because of the way they have seen me hit."
Jones raised his average to .457 with five homers and 16 RBIs, and also equaled his career best with the four hits.
"Right now they've probably got the hottest hitter in all of baseball going for them, in Jones, and we've got to slow them down," Boston manager John Farrell said.
Ryan Flaherty added a solo homer and Jimmy Paredes three singles for the Orioles, who won for the second straight day after losing the series opener.
Hanley Ramirez hit a three-run homer and two hits for Boston, which needs to win Monday's annual Patriots' Day game to avoid losing its first series.
Miguel Gonzalez (2-1) pitched five innings for the victory, allowing three runs and five hits.
"I think what got me to that (point of the game) was our offense," Gonzalez said. "We know that Jonesie is hitting the ball really well. Paredes came up and he's hitting the ball well."
Rick Porcello (1-2) allowed eight runs and 12 hits - with two homers - in five innings.
"I left a lot of fastballs out over the plate," Porcello said. "Obviously Adam Jones was a good example of that. Just didn't pitch my game."
Boston DH David Ortiz was ejected by home plate umpire John Tumpane, who replaced original plate ump Paul Emmel.
The Orioles broke a 3-3 tie in the fifth. Travis Snider had an RBI single and Manny Machado a sacrifice fly.
Jones' three-run double off the left-center field wall chased Porcello and made it 8-3 in the sixth.
Trailing 2-0, Boston jumped ahead on Ramirez's homer that caromed off a billboard above the Green Monster seats and onto the field. Flaherty's home run tied it at 3-3.
Jones' homer went completely out of Fenway Park, clearing the Monster seats, in the first.
YOU'RE OUT
Emmel left the game in the middle of the fourth inning, walking slowly to Boston's dugout where he chatted with a member of the medical staff before heading down the steps. There was no announcement why he left.
Second-base ump Tumpane moved behind the plate.
The crew also had a change before the game when Jordan Baker was replaced by Tumpane. Baker ejected Baltimore right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez for hitting Pablo Sandoval on Friday.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles: Their lineup looks a lot different due to players being on the disabled list. 2B Jonathan Schoop (strained right knee), SS J.J. Hardy (strained left shoulder), C Matt Wieters (right elbow reconstructive surgery) are out.
Red Sox: 2B Dustin Pedroia was rested on Sunday after going 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in Saturday's loss. Brock Holt (11 for 19 coming into the game) started in his place and batted leadoff. He went 1 for 5.
UP NEXT:
Orioles: Wei-Yen Chen (0-0, 4.35 ERA) is scheduled to start the series finale. In his previous start in Fenway, on Sept. 10, the left-hander had a no-hitter broken up with two outs in the sixth inning.
Red Sox: RHP Justin Masterson (1-0, 7.59) is slated to go for the Red Sox in the annual Patriots' Day game with a scheduled 11:05 a.m. first pitch. He was chased in the fifth inning of his previous start, on Tuesday against Washington, when he gave up seven runs in 4 2-3 innings.