Sox miss chance to increase wild-card lead

BOSTON -- Robert Andino's three-run double in the eighth inning gave the Baltimore Orioles a 7-5 win last night and ruined a chance for the Red Sox to extend their two-game lead in the AL wild-card race.

Andino's go-ahead hit came off Jonathan Papelbon, who had gone 21 games since last allowing a run on July 16. It was his second blown save of the season and first since May 9, the last time he entered a game before the ninth inning.

The Red Sox seemed headed for a three-game, wild-card lead over Tampa Bay, which lost to the Yankees. But their struggles continued as they fell to 4-13 since leading the Rays by nine games on Sept. 3. Boston has seven games remaining and Tampa Bay has nine.

Willie Eyre (2-1) got the win and Jim Johnson picked up his eighth save in 13 opportunities. Daniel Bard (2-9) had runners at first and second with one out when he was replaced by Papelbon. The closer, who had 28 strikeouts in the 21 scoreless outings, struck out Chris Davis for the second out. Then Nolan Reimold singled to short leftfield, loading the bases, and Andino doubled down the right-field line for his third hit of the game.

The Red Sox wrap up a three-game series with the Orioles Wednesday night before playing their last six on the road, three each against the Yankees and Baltimore.

Buchholz feels fine

Boston righthander Clay Buchholz, who hasn't pitched since June 16 because of a stress fracture, reported no problems after throwing a 32-pitch simulated game before the Red Sox played the Orioles Tuesday night.

"Everything went well," said Buchholz, who hopes to pitch again this season and in the playoffs -- if the Red Sox get there.