Davis' Hit Lifts O's Past Red Sox 5-3; Boston Misses Playoff Clinch
BOSTON (AP) -- Chris Davis has rewritten the Baltimore Orioles record book with 51 homers, and he leads the majors with 92 extra-base hits.
Sometimes a single is good enough.
The Orioles slugger drove in the game-winning runs with his 12th-inning single to beat Boston 5-3 on Wednesday night and help Baltimore avoid elimination in the AL East. Matt Wieters had a pair of RBI doubles for Baltimore, which moved one game behind Texas in the race for the AL's second wild-card spot when the Rangers lost 4-3 in 12 innings to the Tampa Bay Rays.
"Any time you're in a game like that you want to be the guy to get the hit -- whether it's a squibber up the middle or a home run or whatever it is," Davis said. "You can feel the intensity of both teams trying to get a run. I'll take it whatever way I can get it."
The Red Sox magic number to clinch the AL East remained at three. But Boston moved one game closer to guaranteeing itself at least a wild-card berth when the Kansas City Royals beat Cleveland 7-2.
"We know where the playoffs are. We know how far away we are. We're not stupid," catcher David Ross said moments after the clubhouse TV showed the Tampa Bay Rays beating Texas. "So we feel pretty good about our chances."
T.J. McFarland (2-1) worked the 11th for the win and Jim Johnson got the final three outs for his AL-leading 47th save.
"We ended up with a `W' at the end of a long challenging night," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "I'm so proud of everybody. You can see why Boston's had a great year."
The Orioles played their 114th errorless game, surpassing the 2008 Houston Astros for the majors' most since 1900.
J.J. Hardy and Brian Roberts had consecutive one-out singles and both advanced on a wild pitch by Franklin Morales (2-2). After pinch-hitter Steve Pearce was intentionally walked, Manny Machado fouled out before Davis' grounded one up the middle into center field.
Boston had runners on first and second with one out in the 11th, but Stephen Drew grounded into a double play.
David Ortiz hit his 28th home run -- a two-run shot -- and Mike Napoli added a solo homer for the Red Sox.
Baltimore had pulled in front 3-2 in the sixth on Wieters' RBI double, but Napoli hit his solo homer into the center field bleachers leading off the bottom of the inning against Wei-Yin Chen.
Boston jumped ahead 2-0 in the first on Ortiz's long homer into the seats about 15 rows back in right field. Victorino singled before Ortiz hit the first pitch, holding his bat and admiring his drive for a while before rounding the bases.
Boston starter Jake Peavy went seven innings, allowing three runs, six hits, striking out eight and walking one.
Chen gave up three runs on 11 hits, striking out five without a walking a batter in 5 2/3 innings.
Boston closer Koji Uehara pitched a perfect 10th one night after having his club-record streak of retiring 37 consecutive batters snapped and taking the loss.
Baltimore tied it with two runs in the fifth. Danny Valencia had the Orioles' first hit -- a leadoff single -- and scored on Wieters' double into the center field triangle just over the glove of Victorino's running bid. Roberts' RBI double tied it.
Mixing a well-spotted fastball with a slider and change up, Peavy struck out seven and opened the game with four hitless innings. He walked Roberts on for the first base runner with two outs in the third.
The Red Sox had the bases loaded with no outs in the third, but Napoli lined to short and Jonny Gomes bounced into a double play.
NOTES: Boston CF Jacoby Ellsbury, sidelined for his 11th straight game after breaking a small bone in his right foot, said he's still planning to be back by the end of the regular season. "I'm making great progress. The doctors are pleased with how things are going," he said. "I'm taking it day by day." ... Showalter said he'll know Thursday whether Miguel Gonzalez (sore right groin) or Bud Norris (sore right elbow) will be able to start Saturday. "Miguel feels pretty good today. That's pretty encouraging," Showalter said. "I was surprised. He might be a choice for Saturday. He's going to throw (Thursday). I'm going to make a decision (Thursday) whether it's Miggy, Bud or somebody else." ... Boston manager John Farrell said "I can see us going with 11 pitchers," when asked his plan for a probable Divisional playoff series.
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
