A few notes after the Red Sox even the series

Watching a relentless Boston offense hit three homers and take advantage of eight walks last night can make one have an even greater appreciation for John Means' outing on Monday night in the Orioles' 4-1 win.

The Red Sox had scored 30 runs its previous three games before this series and was averaging 6.1 runs per game during an 11-5 run before Monday's series opener. They got back to that last night and never trailed in an 8-5 victory to even this series.

The Orioles tied it 2-2 in the first and Boston went ahead 3-2 in the fourth. When the Orioles tied it 3-3, Boston scored three in the fifth and when the Orioles pulled within 6-5 in the eighth, Boston scored twice in the ninth. The Orioles kept pulling even or getting close, but never went ahead.

More notes on the Orioles:

* After O's pitching had allowed six hits and one run with two walks in the previous two games, the Orioles gave up eight runs, eight walks and seven hits.

* The three home runs allowed makes it 20 times the Orioles have allowed more than one this year. O's pitching had allowed two homers combined the previous five games. O's pitchers have allowed three or more homers in a game 11 times.

* The Orioles fall to 5-12 at home and are 4-2 in the last six at Oriole Park. Since beginning the year 4-1, the Orioles are 9-22.

* Over his past 17 games, Chris Davis is batting .294 (15-for-51) with three doubles, three homers and 12 RBIs.

* Joey Rickard snapped his 0-for-15 stretch with a double in the second inning, making it his first extra-base hit since April 24 against the White Sox. It was his first multi-hit performance since April 23.

* Third sacker Rio Ruiz has reached base safely in 24 of his 30 starts. He hit a game-tying two-run homer in the first inning. It marked his first home run against the Red Sox in five career games played and his first home run at home against an AL East team this season and second of his career.

* Dwight Smith Jr. has hit safely in six of his last seven home games where he is averaging .360 (9-for-25) during that span. His 10 RBIs in 14 career games against Boston are his most against an opponent.

On the farm last night: Pawtucket shut down Triple-A Norfolk, cooling off the hot Tides bats in a 5-1 win. The Tides had won five in a row and seven of their previous nine, averaging 8.8 runs per game. But they were held to seven hits and one unearned run. Ryan Mountcastle (11 games), Jace Peterson (eight games), Chance Sisco (seven games) and Anthony Santander (seven games) all saw lengthy hitting streaks come to an end Tuesday. Norfolk, which entered the contest leading the International League with a .321 average with runners in scoring position, went 0-for-6 with RISP and left 10 men on base.

Altoona beat Double-A Bowie 3-2. Carlos Pérez hit a two-run homer for the Baysox runs and Rylan Bannon went 2-for-4 and is batting .319. Losing pitcher Zac Lowther threw well. Over six innings he allowed seven hits and three runs (two earned) and he is 2-3 with an ERA of 2.73.

Single-A Frederick beat Potomac 2-1. On a rehab appearance, the Orioles Richard Bleier got the win. Over one inning he allowed two hits and one run. Keys starter Brenan Hanifee threw five scoreless and the right-hander has pitched 10 scoreless innings over his past two starts.

Single-A Delmarva, which owns the best record in all of the minor leagues at 24-4, was off Tuesday. The Shorebirds begin a six-game homestand tonight at Perdue Stadium.

Here are the best records in each minor league with Delmarva topping all 120 clubs:

International League (Lehigh Valley at .655, 19-10)
Pacific Coast League (El Paso at .710, 22-9)
Eastern League (Harrisburg at .793, 23-6)
Texas League (Arkansas at .655, 19-10)
Southern League (Pensacola at .677, 21-10)
California League (Visilia at .710, 22-9)
Carolina League (Down East at .742, 23-8)
Florida State League (Ft. Myers at .645, 20-11)
Midwest League (Quad Cities at .655, 19-10)
South Atlantic League (Delmarva at .857, 24-4)

The records are through Monday's games. Harrisburg did lose last night to fall further back of Delmarva at .767, 23-7.