BALTIMORE -- Just when it appeared Steven Wright had finally gained command of his fluttering knuckleball, the Baltimore Orioles found their groove.
The result: Another early exit for the 2016 All-Star in Boston's 4-2 loss Saturday night.
Trey Mancini and Jonathan Schoop homered in succession off Wright, Jayson Aquino won his first big league start and the Orioles used one big inning to secure their fourth straight victory.
Baltimore will seek to complete a three-game sweep on Sunday. The Orioles have not lost a series this year and own the best record in the majors (12-4).
After limiting Baltimore to three hits over the first three innings, Wright (1-2) gave up two singles, two doubles and two home runs in the fourth. Chris Davis doubled, Mancini and Schoop homered and Adam Jones chased Wright with an RBI single.
"Obviously, I felt pretty good at the beginning and then one inning got away from me," Wright said. "They hit mistakes. That's what makes them good."
Wright (1-2) allowed four runs and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings. Just 10 days earlier, the right-hander got only four outs and yielded eight runs against Baltimore at Fenway Park.
In just under 18 innings this season, Wright has given up seven homers and 17 earned runs.
"It's not as unpredictable this year as it was last year," he said of his knuckler. "It's not really moving. I am trying to get the violence back into the pitch."
Aquino (1-0) allowed two runs and six hits over six innings to earn his first career victory. The 24-year-old lefty previously pitched three times in relief, all last year with Baltimore.
After breaking into professional ball with the Rockies' organization in 2010 and bouncing from one minor league team to another, Aquino just might have found a home.
"It's been a tough process. I've been through a few organizations right now," he said through a translator. "But I'm just thankful to the Orioles for this opportunity and allowing me to start a game at the major league level."
Mychal Givens pitched two perfect innings, Donnie Hart got two outs in the ninth and Darren O'Day finished for his first save.
Jackie Bradley Jr. homered for the Red Sox, who were without injured second baseman Dustin Pedroia.
Bradley put the Red Sox up 2-0 in the third with his first home run, a shot onto Eutaw Street beyond the right-field scoreboard. Boston came in with only seven home runs, fewest in the big leagues.
At that point, it appeared Wright was more than capable of protecting the lead. But he never made it out of the fourth.
"On a night when we're scuffling to put points on the board, that four-run inning looms large," Boston manager John Farrell said.
The big hit was delivered by Mancini, whose team-high fifth long ball of the year soared into the seats in left-center. He has eight homers in 17 big league games over two seasons.
Two of them came against Wright, including one in that April 12 game.
"He was a little more on today, I'd say, especially early on," Mancini said of Wright. "Luckily, my second at-bat, he just left one up that I put a good swing on."
SLUMP BUSTER
Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph snapped an 0-for-23 skid with a third-inning single and added a double in the fourth.
Joseph's slump began last September and included 12 at-bats this season. He's still looking for his first RBI since the 2015 season.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Red Sox: Pedroia missed the game with a sore left knee and ankle but hopes to return Sunday. The injuries occurred when he was spiked by Manny Machado on Friday night.
Orioles: All-Star closer Zach Britton (forearm strain) will be examined by a hand specialist Monday and could resume throwing on that day. ... RHP Chris Tillman (shoulder) allowed three runs over 3 2/3 innings against Harrisburg in a rehabilitation outing with Double-A Bowie. ... OF Joey Rickard (sprained finger) took soft-toss swings in a session manager Buck Showalter called "very encouraging."
UP NEXT
Red Sox: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (0-1, 4.76 ERA) takes the mound Sunday in the series finale.
Orioles: RHP Kevin Gausman (1-1, 7.23) makes his fifth start of the season. He's allowed 26 hits in 18 2/3 innings.
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.tag/MLBbaseball
Boston Red Sox
The result: Another early exit for the 2016 All-Star in Boston's 4-2 loss Saturday night.
Trey Mancini and Jonathan Schoop homered in succession off Wright, Jayson Aquino won his first big league start and the Orioles used one big inning to secure their fourth straight victory.
Baltimore will seek to complete a three-game sweep on Sunday. The Orioles have not lost a series this year and own the best record in the majors (12-4).
After limiting Baltimore to three hits over the first three innings, Wright (1-2) gave up two singles, two doubles and two home runs in the fourth. Chris Davis doubled, Mancini and Schoop homered and Adam Jones chased Wright with an RBI single.
"Obviously, I felt pretty good at the beginning and then one inning got away from me," Wright said. "They hit mistakes. That's what makes them good."
Wright (1-2) allowed four runs and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings. Just 10 days earlier, the right-hander got only four outs and yielded eight runs against Baltimore at Fenway Park.
In just under 18 innings this season, Wright has given up seven homers and 17 earned runs.
"It's not as unpredictable this year as it was last year," he said of his knuckler. "It's not really moving. I am trying to get the violence back into the pitch."
Aquino (1-0) allowed two runs and six hits over six innings to earn his first career victory. The 24-year-old lefty previously pitched three times in relief, all last year with Baltimore.
After breaking into professional ball with the Rockies' organization in 2010 and bouncing from one minor league team to another, Aquino just might have found a home.
"It's been a tough process. I've been through a few organizations right now," he said through a translator. "But I'm just thankful to the Orioles for this opportunity and allowing me to start a game at the major league level."
Mychal Givens pitched two perfect innings, Donnie Hart got two outs in the ninth and Darren O'Day finished for his first save.
Jackie Bradley Jr. homered for the Red Sox, who were without injured second baseman Dustin Pedroia.
Bradley put the Red Sox up 2-0 in the third with his first home run, a shot onto Eutaw Street beyond the right-field scoreboard. Boston came in with only seven home runs, fewest in the big leagues.
At that point, it appeared Wright was more than capable of protecting the lead. But he never made it out of the fourth.
"On a night when we're scuffling to put points on the board, that four-run inning looms large," Boston manager John Farrell said.
The big hit was delivered by Mancini, whose team-high fifth long ball of the year soared into the seats in left-center. He has eight homers in 17 big league games over two seasons.
Two of them came against Wright, including one in that April 12 game.
"He was a little more on today, I'd say, especially early on," Mancini said of Wright. "Luckily, my second at-bat, he just left one up that I put a good swing on."
SLUMP BUSTER
Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph snapped an 0-for-23 skid with a third-inning single and added a double in the fourth.
Joseph's slump began last September and included 12 at-bats this season. He's still looking for his first RBI since the 2015 season.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Red Sox: Pedroia missed the game with a sore left knee and ankle but hopes to return Sunday. The injuries occurred when he was spiked by Manny Machado on Friday night.
Orioles: All-Star closer Zach Britton (forearm strain) will be examined by a hand specialist Monday and could resume throwing on that day. ... RHP Chris Tillman (shoulder) allowed three runs over 3 2/3 innings against Harrisburg in a rehabilitation outing with Double-A Bowie. ... OF Joey Rickard (sprained finger) took soft-toss swings in a session manager Buck Showalter called "very encouraging."
UP NEXT
Red Sox: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (0-1, 4.76 ERA) takes the mound Sunday in the series finale.
Orioles: RHP Kevin Gausman (1-1, 7.23) makes his fifth start of the season. He's allowed 26 hits in 18 2/3 innings.
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.tag/MLBbaseball
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Boston - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Jayson Aquino pitching for Baltimore | BOS | BAL |
| Bogaerts grounded out to first. | 0 | 0 |
| Bradley Jr. singled to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Betts popped out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Ramírez popped out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Steven Wright pitching for Boston | BOS | BAL |
| Gentry grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Jones flied out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Machado singled to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Trumbo flied out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Jayson Aquino pitching for Baltimore | BOS | BAL |
| Moreland grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Young walked. | 0 | 0 |
| León flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Sandoval struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Steven Wright pitching for Boston | BOS | BAL |
| Davis grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Mancini grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Schoop reached on infield single to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Hardy grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Jayson Aquino pitching for Baltimore | BOS | BAL |
| Hernández grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Bogaerts singled to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Bradley Jr. homered to right (407 feet), Bogaerts scored. | 2 | 0 |
| Betts fouled out to catcher. | 2 | 0 |
| Ramírez grounded out to shortstop. | 2 | 0 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Steven Wright pitching for Boston | BOS | BAL |
| Joseph singled to right. | 2 | 0 |
| Gentry grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Joseph out at second. | 2 | 0 |
| Jones grounded out to third, Gentry to second. | 2 | 0 |
| Machado grounded out to third. | 2 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Jayson Aquino pitching for Baltimore | BOS | BAL |
| Moreland lined out to shortstop. | 2 | 0 |
| Young singled to right center. | 2 | 0 |
| Young stole second. | 2 | 0 |
| León grounded out to third. | 2 | 0 |
| Sandoval fouled out to third. | 2 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Steven Wright pitching for Boston | BOS | BAL |
| Trumbo lined out to left. | 2 | 0 |
| Davis doubled to deep right. | 2 | 0 |
| Mancini homered to left center (422 feet), Davis scored. | 2 | 2 |
| Schoop homered to left (391 feet). | 2 | 3 |
| Hardy lined out to right. | 2 | 3 |
| Joseph doubled to right center. | 2 | 3 |
| Gentry reached on infield single to third, Joseph to third. | 2 | 3 |
| Jones singled to right, Joseph scored, Gentry to third. | 2 | 4 |
| Hembree relieved Wright. | 2 | 4 |
| Jones stole second. | 2 | 4 |
| Machado struck out swinging. | 2 | 4 |
| 4 Runs, 6 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Jayson Aquino pitching for Baltimore | BOS | BAL |
| Hernández singled to left. | 2 | 4 |
| Bogaerts flied out to right. | 2 | 4 |
| Bradley Jr. walked, Hernández to second. | 2 | 4 |
| Betts popped out to second. | 2 | 4 |
| Ramírez struck out swinging. | 2 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Heath Hembree pitching for Boston | BOS | BAL |
| Trumbo walked. | 2 | 4 |
| Davis struck out looking. | 2 | 4 |
| Mancini struck out swinging. | 2 | 4 |
| Schoop grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Trumbo out at second. | 2 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Jayson Aquino pitching for Baltimore | BOS | BAL |
| Moreland walked. | 2 | 4 |
| Young grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Moreland out at second. | 2 | 4 |
| Young to second on wild pitch by Aquino. | 2 | 4 |
| León popped out to second. | 2 | 4 |
| Sandoval reached on infield single to pitcher, Young to third. | 2 | 4 |
| Hernández grounded out to second. | 2 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Heath Hembree pitching for Boston | BOS | BAL |
| Hardy singled to shallow right. | 2 | 4 |
| Joseph popped out to shortstop. | 2 | 4 |
| Gentry struck out swinging. | 2 | 4 |
| Jones popped out to shortstop. | 2 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Mychal Givens pitching for Baltimore | BOS | BAL |
| Givens relieved Aquino. | 2 | 4 |
| Bogaerts grounded out to pitcher. | 2 | 4 |
| Bradley Jr. struck out swinging. | 2 | 4 |
| Betts grounded out to pitcher. | 2 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Heath Hembree pitching for Boston | BOS | BAL |
| Machado popped out to first. | 2 | 4 |
| Trumbo struck out swinging. | 2 | 4 |
| Davis grounded out to third. | 2 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Mychal Givens pitching for Baltimore | BOS | BAL |
| Ramírez lined out to center. | 2 | 4 |
| Moreland fouled out to third. | 2 | 4 |
| Young struck out looking. | 2 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Baltimore - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Robbie Ross Jr. pitching for Boston | BOS | BAL |
| Ross Jr. relieved Hembree. | 2 | 4 |
| Mancini flied out to left. | 2 | 4 |
| Schoop hit by pitch. | 2 | 4 |
| Hardy grounded into double play, pitcher to shortstop to first, Schoop out at second. | 2 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Donnie Hart pitching for Baltimore | BOS | BAL |
| Hart relieved Givens. | 2 | 4 |
| León lined out to left. | 2 | 4 |
| Selsky hit for Sandoval. | 2 | 4 |
| Selsky struck out looking. | 2 | 4 |
| Hernández hit by pitch. | 2 | 4 |
| O'Day relieved Hart. | 2 | 4 |
| Bogaerts lined out to second. | 2 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
Boston Red Sox
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bogaerts SS | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | .321 | .357 | .340 |
| Bradley Jr. CF | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 18 | .333 | .400 | .571 |
| Betts RF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | .295 | .358 | .410 |
| Ramírez DH | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17 | .211 | .274 | .263 |
| Moreland 1B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17 | .309 | .390 | .515 |
| Young LF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 18 | .245 | .344 | .283 |
| León C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | .205 | .222 | .318 |
| Sandoval 3B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | .220 | .266 | .390 |
a-Selsky PH
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | .125 | .125 | .250 |
| Hernández 2B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | .290 | .333 | .323 |
| Totals | 33 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 143 | |||
| a-struck out looking for P Sandoval in the 9th | ||||||||||
| BATTING HR: Bradley Jr. (1, 3rd inning off Aquino 1 on, 1 Out) RBI: Bradley Jr. 2 (4) Red Sox RISP: 1-7 (León 0-2, Ramírez 0-1, Sandoval 1-2, Hernández 0-1, Betts 0-1) Team LOB: 8 | ||||||||||
| BASERUNNING SB: Young (1, 2nd base off Aquino/Joseph) | ||||||||||
| FIELDING DP: 1 (Ross Jr.-Bogaerts-Moreland). | ||||||||||
Game Notes
| The start of the game was delayed 31 minutes by rain. |
Game Information
| Stadium | Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, MD |
| Attendance | 35,457 (77.1% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:47 |
| Weather | 55 degrees, rain |
| Wind | 6 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Hunter Wendelstedt, First Base - Andy Fletcher, Second Base - Alan Porter, Third Base - Paul Nauert |
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