Boston Red Sox vs Baltimore Orioles Box Score on Jun 04, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Jun 4, 2017

BALTIMORE -- Chris Sale won his sixth straight decision, Andrew Benintendi homered twice and the Boston Red Sox split a four-game series against the Baltimore Orioles with a 7-3 victory Sunday.

Boston now heads to New York with a chance to take over first place in the American League East with three games against the Yankees beginning Tuesday. The Orioles also get a day off before resuming interleague play against visiting Pittsburgh.

Sale (7-2) has won his past four starts against Baltimore. He allowed three runs on six hits with nine strikeouts and just one walk over six innings. He leads the majors with 119 Ks.

Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman (1-3) retired nine straight batters before allowing a leadoff single to Mitch Moreland in the sixth. Tillman then loaded the bases on a pair of walks. After striking out Sandy Leon, the Red Sox took a 5-3 lead when a pickoff throw by Orioles catcher Francisco Pena sailed into left field and scored two runs.

An inning later, Benintendi earned the first multi-homer game of his career with a solo shot off Mike Wright that boosted the lead to 6-3. Benintendi, who has seven home runs, also had an RBI single in the ninth that rounded out the scoring.

Tillman, who was making his sixth start since coming off the DL, allowed five runs (three earned) on six hits with three strikeouts and four walks over six innings. He has not earned a win since May 7.

The Red Sox have won 10 of their past 14 games.

Jackie Bradley Jr. provided a 2-0 lead with a two-out, bases loaded single in the first. The Orioles responded in the bottom half of the inning on a single by Chris Davis that scored Joey Rickard and Manny Machado, who advanced on a double steal. Two batters later, Jonathan Schoop provided a 3-2 lead with an RBI double to left.

Sale had not allowed a first inning run over his previous 11 starts this year.

Benintendi tied the game 3-3 with a solo shot to lead off the third.

NOTES: Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia (wrist) swung in the cage Sunday one day after taking ground balls on the field. Manager John Farrell said the hope is Pedroia can take batting practice in New York on Tuesday. ... Orioles C Welington Castillo (groin) threw in the outfield Sunday and will likely play in a rehab game or two before rejoining the major league club, manager Buck Showalter said. ... Boston INF Josh Rutledge was available after being scratched the previous night because of dehydration.