Dustin Pedroia homers twice as Boston avoids sweep, beats Orioles

For the Orioles, this game did not start well when Boston took a 1-0 lead in the second. And then it got worse.

Dustin Pedroia hit a two-run homer in the third and added a three-run homer in the fourth as the Red Sox crushed the Orioles 10-1 to avoid the three-game sweep.

Orioles starter Mike Wright struggled again and gave up six hits and six runs in three innings plus two batters. He allowed two homers to fall to 2-5 with an ERA of 6.33.

In three starts since he returned to the active roster earlier this month, Wright has worked 12 innings, allowing 17 hits, including five homers and 13 runs. He has pitched five innings or fewer in seven consecutive starts. O's starters have pitched fewer than six innings in 14 of the last 17 games.

Pedroia hit his 11th homer off Wright in the third and his 12th off Jorge Rondon an inning later for a five-RBI night. It is his third multi-homer game of this season and sixth of his career. David Ortiz started the scoring with a solo homer in the second - his 35th this year and No. 501 of his career.

Boston scored one in the second, three in the third and five in the fourth for the early 9-0 lead. Starter Henry Owens got the win, going 7 2/3 innings and allowing six hits, with no walks and four strikeouts. He is 3-2 with an ERA of 4.33.

The Orioles avoided the shutout in the last of the ninth when Junior Lake reached on a two-base error, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a Steve Pearce groundout.

The Orioles saw their three-game win streak snapped and lost for the second time in eight games. They are 71-74 overall, 42-29 at home, 8-6 in September and 11-5 against Boston.

The Orioles now head out on a 10-game road trip that begins Friday night in St. Petersburg against Tampa Bay. In the series opener, Chris Tillman (9-11, 5.21 ERA) pitches against left-hander Matt Moore (1-4, 8.42 ERA).

Baysox win: Double-A Bowie won 10-3 tonight at Reading to even the Eastern League Championship Series at one win each. The Baysox host Game 3 on Thursday night.

Glynn Davis had a two-run triple and three RBIs, and Garabez Rosa had three hits with two RBIs for the Baysox. Starter Nick Additon went seven innings, allowing four hits and three runs. Left-hander Chris Lee gets the start tomorrow night for Bowie.