Red Sox Hit 6 Homers To Top Orioles, Reclaim First
BOSTON (AP) -- Dustin Pedroia hit a three-run homer and Boston added three consecutive home runs in the seventh as the Red Sox beat the struggling Baltimore Orioles 10-4 on Thursday night.
Six different Boston players homered, including three straight by David Ortiz, Josh Reddick and Jarrod Saltalamacchia that helped the Red Sox blow open the game in the seventh inning.
Jacoby Ellsbury added a two-run homer and Adrian Gonzalez hit a solo shot for Boston, which moved a half-game up on the Yankees with New York's loss at home to Tampa.
Andrew Miller (3-0) won his third straight start, allowing three runs on six hits in five innings. He was hardly overwhelming, walking four while striking out none, but he was good enough to give Boston's beleaguered rotation another much-needed solid start before the bullpen took over with Boston up 5-3.
The Orioles lost their fourth straight and ninth in 10 games.
Baltimore starter Jake Arrieta (9-6) allowed the first two homers, starting with Pedroia's drive on a 3-1 pitch that cleared the Green Monster seats in left and put Boston up 3-2.
Gonzalez homered for the 17th time this season, a shot over the center-field wall that put Boston up 5-3 in the fourth, then Ellsbury hit a two-run homer off reliever Jason Berken in the sixth. Ellsbury and home plate umpire Bill Welke bumped into each other as both watched the ball stay inside the right-field pole and give the Red Sox a 7-3 lead.
Pedro Viola came out of Baltimore's bullpen in the seventh and failed to get an out.
Ortiz made it 8-3 with a line drive to straightaway center, just clearing the wall near the deepest part of Fenway Park. Reddick followed Ortiz with a homer to right, just his second this season, then Saltalamacchia made it three straight -- clearing the Green Monster as Boston fans cheered the homer hat trick.
It was the first time this season the Red Sox strung together three straight homers and the six home run total was the most for Boston since hitting six in a 10-0 win over the Orioles in September 2009.
Baltimore opened the game on back-to-back singles by J.J. Hardy and Nick Markakis. Hardy led off with a single off the Green Monster, followed by Markakis' single to left and another single by Adam Jones, who lined one off Miller that bounced into right field and allowed Hardy to score.
Notes: The Red Sox honored former manager Dick Williams with a video tribute in the fourth inning, highlighting the "Impossible Dream" pennant winners managed by Williams. The tribute showed highlights of Boston's surprise turnaround and first World Series appearance since 1946 to the tune of "Dream the Impossible Dream" from the musical "Man of La Mancha." Williams died Thursday at age 82. ... Both teams left seven runners on base. ... Baltimore fell to 2-3 against Boston this season. ... Boston's Kevin Youkilis followed his three extra-base hit night Wednesday with his third double in two games. ... Ortiz led off the second with a double to left, barely sliding safely into second under the tag. Sox fans cheered the burly DH's hustle. ... Almost half of Boston's 13 hits were home runs.
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