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Red Sox knock off Orioles

Apr 19, 2014 - 10:22 PM Boston, MA (SportsNetwork.com) - Brock Holt scorched a go-ahead triple in the bottom of the seventh inning to boost the Boston Red Sox to a 4-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles in the second test of a four-game set from Fenway Park.

With the game tied 2-2, Mike Carp started the home half of the seventh with a walk before scoring two batters later when Holt ripped a triple into the gap in right-center field.

Evan Meek then replaced Baltimore starter Bud Norris (0-2) on the bump and was greeted by Jonathan Herrera, who executed the safety squeeze to perfection.

Herrera's bunt rolled down the first-base line and was smothered by Chris Davis, but the Baltimore first baseman couldn't get the ball out of his glove quick enough, allowing Holt to slide in safely for a 4-2 lead.

Junichi Tazawa (1-0), who replaced starter Felix Doubront in the seventh and recorded the final out of the frame, then spun a perfect eighth before Koji Uehara worked around a leadoff walk in the ninth to nail down his fourth save of the season.

"They continue to go out and pound the strike zone," Boston manager John Farrell said of Tazawa and Uehara. "Two guys we rely on heavily late in games."

David Ortiz finished 2-for-4 with a solo homer for the Red Sox, who had won two straight before dropping an 8-4 decision in Friday's series opener.

Nelson Cruz collected two of Baltimore's five hits and drove in both runs for the Orioles, who had a three-game win streak halted.

Cruz gave the O's a 1-0 lead in their first turn at-bat, with his two-out single to left scoring Nick Markakis, who opened the game with a single and then stole second before scoring on Cruz's base hit.

Baltimore gave the run right back in the home half, as Mike Napoli smacked a grounder to third with runners on the corners and one away. Third baseman Jonathan Schoop misplayed the ball, allowing Dustin Pedroia to score.

Norris evaded further damage by getting Carp to ground into a 6-4-3 double play.

Ortiz wrapped his solo shot around Pesky's Pole down the right-field line to start the fourth, giving the Red Sox a 2-1 lead.

The O's answered in the sixth after Adam Jones stroked a two-out double and stole third before Davis was plunked to put men on the corners.

Cruz followed with a chopper down the third-base line that Holt corralled before firing a one-hopper to first that beat Cruz for the third out, according to first base umpire Ted Barrett.

However, the Orioles challenged the call and video review showed that Cruz got to the bag before the ball. The overturn allowed Jones to score for the tying run.

Prior to Holt's go-ahead triple, both benches cleared briefly in the seventh after Norris threw a pitch up high to David Ross, who was squaring to bunt. Ross barked something at Norris before catcher Matt Wieters stepped in between the two to diffuse the situation.

"Ross just got upset with a couple balls that just slipped, that got away," Wieters said of what sparked the situation. "Two of them were sliders and more than anything I don't want anybody talking to the pitcher from the other team. He stopped and we got settled. It's grown men out there with emotions and anger so you settle down and play the game."

Players from both benches made their way onto the field, but nothing materialized.

Game Notes

With his 434th career home run, Ortiz moved into a four-way tie for 42nd place on MLB's all-time HR list. Juan Gonzalez, Andruw Jones and Paul Konerko are the other three players with 434 career homers ... Cruz recorded his 500th career RBI ... Norris allowed four runs on five hits and two walks while striking out seven over 6 1/3 frames, while Doubront gave up two runs on five hits and two walks with seven strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings.