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Baltimore Orioles: Long Ball, Bullpen Tighten AL East Race

By Joe Serpico

Sep 13, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; As Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter (26) (center) looks on as shortstop J.J. Hardy (2) is congratulated by third baseman Manny Machado (13) as catcher Matt Wieters (32) and first baseman Chris Davis (19) looks on after his three-run home run against the Boston Red Sox during the second inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 13, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; As Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter (26) (center) looks on as shortstop J.J. Hardy (2) is congratulated by third baseman Manny Machado (13) as catcher Matt Wieters (32) and first baseman Chris Davis (19) looks on after his three-run home run against the Boston Red Sox during the second inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
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A five-run second inning has put the Baltimore Orioles two games behind the Boston Red Sox in the American League East after a 6-3 win Tuesday night.

The Baltimore Orioles defeated the Boston Red Sox, 6-3, on three home runs and Zach Britton recorded a four-out save on a night that the both the Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays also lost.

J.J. Hardy, Nolan Reimold and Jonathan Schoop each had home runs, and Dylan Bundy recorded another quality start for the Orioles are once again two games behind the Sox in the American League East and tied with the Jays for the final AL Wild Card spot.

Hardy got the Orioles on the board first with a three-run blast over the Green Monster in the second inning. It was the ninth home run on the year for the shortstop.

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Drew Stubbs walked in the next at bat before Reimold launched another pitch over the Green Monster, extending the Orioles lead to 5-0.

Bundy loaded the bases in the bottom half of the second and walked Ryan Hanigan on a close 3-2 pitch for the Sox first run of the night. He walked Dustin Pedroia on four pitches in the next at bat to make it a 5-2 ballgame. Fortunately for the Orioles, Bundy struck out Xander Bogaerts and got David Ortiz to ground out to end the inning with the bases still loaded.

Drew Pomeranz, a popular trade target for the Orioles earlier in the season, recorded only six outs in the game. The lefty gave up five runs on four hits and two walks before being pulled in favor of Heath Hembree.

Bogaerts led off the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run to cut the Orioles lead to 5-3. Ortiz singled in the next at bat and moved to second on a Stubbs error, but Bundy would get the next three batters to pop out to end the threat.

Bundy would work into the sixth inning, giving up a walk to Chris Young and getting Jackie Bradley Jr. to pop out before being relieved by Tommy Hunter. Bundy threw 95 pitches, 61 for strikes, giving up three runs on six hits and four walks while picking up four strikeouts. Bundy’s fastball was consistently hitting 95-96 mph which is a good sign considering many felt he was starting to wear down as the regular season comes to a close.

Baltimore had a chance to add some insurance runs with two outs in the top of the eighth. The O’s were able to load the bases, but Adam Jones struck out to end the inning. Not to worry, they did get that add-on run in the ninth as Schoop drilled his 24th homer of the year out of Fenway Park.

The combination of Hunter, Donnie Hart, Brad Brach and Britton closed the door on the Red Sox offense to preserve the win. Britton needed four outs to get his 42nd save of the season and went through the heart of the order to do so. The Orioles now have a 32-game winning streak when leading after six innings.

Next: Time to Move Wade Miley to Bullpen

The Orioles can move within a game of the division lead with a win tonight. Kevin Gausman will take the mound against Rick Porcello. Gausman has been electric since Aug. 23, posting a 1.08 ERA, while Porcello is the only 20-game winner in the Majors and 13-0 at Fenway.

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