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Orioles target series win at Boston

Sep 22, 2012 - 1:12 PM (Sports Network) - The Baltimore Orioles are getting closer to nailing down their first postseason spot since 1997. On Saturday they try for their sixth consecutive win when they continue a three-game series with the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Baltimore beat Jon Lester for the first time in 21 starts in Friday's opener, as Matt Wieters drove in three runs and the Orioles posted a 4-2 win.

"Every time they scored, we had an answer it seemed like and Matt was in the middle of that again," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said of Wieters.

Rookie Miguel Gonzalez (7-4) gave up two runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings for Baltimore, which remained one game behind New York in the AL East but moved one game ahead of Oakland for the top wild card spot.

The Yankees beat the Athletics in extras on Friday.

Darren O'Day pitched 1 2/3 flawless innings in relief of Gonzalez, while Jim Johnson worked the ninth for his 46th save, a new Orioles' single-season record.

"It kind of doesn't really mean anything," Johnson said of the record. "We'll talk about it at the end of the year and see if it really does mean anything."

Lester (9-13) allowed four runs on eight hits and walked three in seven frames. He entered the series-opener 14-0 with a 2.49 ERA against the Orioles.

Getting the call for the Orioles on Saturday will be Randy Wolf.

Wolf is 2-0 with a 5.23 earned run average in four games (1 start) with his new club. The left-hander, who was 3-10 with a 5.69 ERA in 25 games, 24 of which were starts, with Milwaukee, threw four innings of two-run ball in a 9-5 win at Oakland on Sunday. He did not factor in the outcome of that one.

Wolf has made six career starts against Boston, going 3-1 with a 2.70 ERA.

Boston, meanwhile, will counter with veteran right-hander Aaron Cook, who is 4-10 with a 4.93 ERA. Cook snapped a five-decision losing streak and won for the first time since Aug. 6 on Monday, as he held the Tampa Bay Rays to a run and five hits over six innings.

"It's one of those things," said Cook. "I just try to put it out of my mind and go out there and try to be myself every start and try to give us a chance to win some baseball games. Fortunately it worked out tonight."

Cook has lost both of his starts to the O's and has pitched to a 9.00 ERA in those outings.

Baltimore is 9-4 versus the Red Sox this season. The Orioles' six wins at Fenway this season are their most since 2005.