J.J. Hardy hit a three-run homer and Nolan Reimold added a two-run shot later in the second as the Baltimore Orioles beat Boston 6-3 Tuesday night and pulled within two games of the AL East-leading Red Sox.
Jonathan Schoop added a leadoff homer in the ninth as the Orioles outslugged the Red Sox one night after getting rocked 12-2 in the series opener. With Toronto's 6-2 loss to Tampa Bay, the Orioles pulled even with the Blue Jays for second in the division and tied for the two AL wild-card berths.
Orioles rookie Dylan Bundy (9-5) survived a rocky second inning and pitched into the sixth, holding Boston to three runs on six hits over 5 1/3 innings.
Xander Bogaerts homered for Boston, which had won five of six and missed a chance to gain a little space in the crowded field of division leaders.
Drew Pomeranz (10-12) gave up five runs and four hits in two-plus innings, his shortest outing of the season. He continued to struggle since a July trade from San Diego, falling to 2-5 with Boston
Zach Britton pitched a scoreless ninth for his 42nd save.
Pomeranz was pulled with nobody out in the third after Manny Machado's leadoff single to left. After needing just 11 pitches to set down the Orioles in order in the first, Pomeranz labored through 45 pitches in the second.
Mark Trumbo led off the second with a single and Chris Davis walked, then with one out Hardy broke the scoreless tie with a towering homer that bounced off one of the signs above the Green Monster in left field. The Orioles weren't done yet with Pomeranz, who walked Drew Stubbs after Hardy's homer and Reimold followed with a line drive homer to left.
Bundy unraveled slightly in the bottom of the second, walking Ryan Hanigan and Dustin Pedroia with the bases loaded for Boston's first two runs. Despite walking three and allowing two hits during the inning, Bundy limited the damage to just the pair of runs.
Boston didn't score again until Bogaerts led off the fifth with his 19th homer of the season, pulling the Red Sox within 5-3.
The three-game series wraps up Wednesday. The Red Sox and Orioles meet again next week for four games in Baltimore.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles: OF Steve Pearce was not in the starting lineup will have his right elbow examined for a nagging injury that he aggravated making a throw from left field Monday night.
Red Sox: Activated rookie OF Andrew Benintendi from the 15-day DL. Benintendi had been on the DL since Aug. 25 with a sprained left knee.
UP NEXT
Orioles: RHP Kevin Gausman (7-10, 3.61) starts for the Orioles in the series finale and Baltimore's last game at Fenway Park this season.
Red Sox: RHP Rick Porcello (20-3, 3.21) already leads the majors in victories and is unbeaten in home starts.
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