Orioles fail to sweep Red Sox, but don't lose ground
BOSTON -- The Baltimore Orioles ended a successful road trip with a wasted opportunity to climb into a tie for the AL East lead.
When Ryan Flaherty struck out with the bases loaded in the ninth inning Sunday, the Red Sox had a 2-1 win and the Orioles headed home after going 6-3 on the journey to Oakland, Seattle and Boston.
"We needed this one," Orioles centerfielder Adam Jones said. "Obviously, going down to this last stretch every game is looked at as a must win. We had a good road trip. We really, really wanted this one to finish off the road trip, but it happens."
The Orioles (87-65) remain one game behind the Yankees in the AL East and lead Oakland by one game for the top wild-card spot in the league.
The Red Sox (69-85) snapped a four-game losing streak while ending the Orioles' six-game winning streak. They remain 11/2 games ahead of the Blue Jays for last place in the AL East. It will be Boston's first losing record since 1997.
"Coming to Boston, take two out of three, I don't care what kind of team we're playing or how we're playing," Baltimore's Mark Reynolds said. "It's always big and we keep winning series and we'll see where we're at here in a week or two."
Down 2-1 in the ninth, the Orioles loaded the bases with one out against Red Sox closer Andrew Bailey on a single by Reynolds, a double by Jim Thome and a walk to Chris Davis. But Manny Machado grounded into a force at home and Flaherty struck out to end it.
Orioles starter Chris Tillman allowed one run in six innings. Lefthanded Boston starter Felix Doubront gave up one run in seven innings with 11 strikeouts.
With the pitcher's mound in the sun and home plate in shadows until late in the game, hitters had a tough time picking up pitches, especially from a lefty.
"It was tough." Reynolds said. "Guys were trying sunglasses, no sunglasses, light lens, dark lens. Both teams were playing in the same conditions. It's probably why the score was 2-1."
