BOSTON — Matt Wieters’ two-run homer highlighted a six-run fourth inning that knocked upstart southpaw Eduardo Rodriguez out of the game as the Baltimore Orioles earned an 8-6 victory over the Boston Red Sox in the finale of a three-game set Thursday at Fenway Park.
Baltimore (38-34) took two of three in the series and improved to 9-4 against Boston this year.
Wieters deposited a 2-0 pitch into the Orioles’ bullpen in right field with one out in the fourth, giving the catcher three home runs this season.
Rodriguez (3-2) dropped his second consecutive start at home and has given up 15 earned runs in his last 8 1/3 innings at Fenway. The 22-year-old lefty was tagged for six runs on seven hits and struck out five in a brief 3 2/3-inning start as Boston (32-42) fell 10 games under .500.
Left fielder Alejandro De Aza hit a three-run home run against his former team in the fourth to lead the Red Sox bats. Catcher Blake Swihart and shortstop Xander Bogaerts had RBI hits.
Bogaerts also scored on a wild pitch in the seventh, pulling Boston within two runs.
Baltimore starter Miguel Gonzalez (6-4) lasted just long enough to get the win in his return from the disabled list, leaving the game in the sixth after allowing four runs on eight hits and striking out four over five innings. Left-hander Zach Britton converted his 17th straight save and 21st overall.
Shortstop J.J. Hardy joined Wieters with a multi-RBI game of his own, doubling and driving in a pair of runs that put the Orioles up 5-1 in the fourth inning.
Third baseman Manny Machado, designated hitter Chris Davis and second baseman Ryan Flaherty each had an RBI in Baltimore’s 15-hit attack.
A second-inning collision between Orioles right fielder Delmon Young and first baseman Chris Parmelee in right turned a fly ball from Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli into a ground-rule double. Young appeared to bear the brunt of the damage, but both players stayed in the game.
NOTES: Baltimore led the majors with a .316 batting average with runners in scoring position entering Thursday. … Orioles CF Adam Jones (shoulder) missed his fourth straight game. The center fielder ranks 11th in the American League with a .298 batting average. … Baltimore starting RHP Miguel Gonzalez had never surrendered more than three earned runs in six career starts at Fenway Park. … Red Sox INF Dustin Pedroia (hamstring) was placed on the 15-day disabled list and OF Hanley Ramirez (wrist) is day-to-day after both left Wednesday’s game with injuries. … Red Sox RHP Joe Kelly was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket and C Erik Kratz was designated for assignment. OF Jackie Bradley Jr. and INF Deven Marrero were called up from Pawtucket. Boston also selected RHP Jonathan Aro from Pawtucket. … Baltimore will host Cleveland for a three-game series and Boston will visit Tampa Bay for three starting Friday.