Baltimore 4, Boston 1

Orioles 4, Red Sox 1: Rookie Steve Tolleson hit his first home run and Brian Matusz matched a career high with nine strikeouts as host Baltimore evened the three-game series against Boston.

Matusz (4-4) surrendered one run and two hits while walking one in 6 1/3 innings. The left-hander has won three straight starts and four of five.

Felix Doubront (4-2) was nearly as sharp for the Red Sox, striking out nine while allowing two runs on four hits and a pair of walks in six innings.

Doubront’s one big mistake came in the second, when he left a first-pitch fastball over the outside of the plate against Tolleson with a runner on first. The 28-year-old Tolleson belted it over the wall in left-center for a 2-0 lead.

Wilson Betemit tacked on some insurance with a two-run homer off Matt Albers in the eighth.

Two relievers bridged the gap to closer Jim Johnson, who worked a perfect ninth for his major league-leading 16th save.

Kevin Youkilis provided Boston’s lone run with a solo blast and Adrian Gonzalez had the only other hit for the Red Sox, a single in the second.

Boston (21-22) has squandered three separate chances to move over .500.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Boston activated Youkilis from the disabled list and started him at first base, leaving rookie Will Middlebrooks at third and shifting Gonzalez to right field. … The Red Sox placed OF Cody Ross (foot) on the 15-day disabled list and OF Ryan Sweeney (concussion) on the seven-day DL on Tuesday. … Orioles 2B Brian Roberts, who has been out over a year with post-concussion symptoms, will begin a minor-league rehab assignment on Wednesday at Double-A Bowie.

• Baltimore will play their next game at home against Boston. The Orioles have a W/L % of .630 after a win and .647 after a loss.
• Boston will play their next game on the road against Baltimore. The Red Sox have a W/L % of .591 after a win and .381 after a loss.