A few quick takes on the Orioles' win over the Red Sox

It was, to say the least, an important victory. For the O's pitching staff, it felt like a save situation from about the second inning on. But they were up for it tonight as the Orioles beat the Red Sox 6-3 at Fenway Park a night after losing by 10 runs.

The Orioles improved to 79-65 and moved to within two games of the first-place Red Sox at 81-63. Boston had been 20-10 its previous 30 and 15-7 in its previous 22 American League East games. With Toronto's 6-2 loss to Tampa Bay, the O's tie the Blue Jays for second place in the divison and for the top AL wild card spot.

Now, just like they did in Detroit, the Orioles have a chance to win a big series after losing the first of three games. A win tomorrow night would pull them within a game of first place and give them a 6-3 road trip with three series victories.

Dylan Bundy battled: He sure did. His outing was more impressive than a pitching line that showed three runs and six hits allowed over 5 1/3 innings.

After the Orioles staked him to a 5-0 lead in the second, it looked like Boston would come right back with a big inning in the home half. Bundy sure opened the door for them to do that, but then he closed it.

He issued back-to-back bases-loaded walks to make it 5-2, but then he fanned Xander Bogaerts and got David Ortiz to ground out to put out the flames on that rally. Eight men batted and Bundy needed 33 pitches to get through the inning, but he got through it with his team up by three runs.

In the fifth, Bundy allowed a leadoff homer to Bogaerts and Ortiz reached second with no outs. But he got the next three hitters including getting the hot-hitting Mookie Betts and Hanley Ramirez.

The bullpen pitchers battled: They sure did. Tommy Hunter got a double play on one pitch in the sixth. Hunter, Donnie Hart and Brad Brach each got outs in the last of the seventh. Hart got Ortiz on a shallow fly out, winning a seven-pitch at-bat. Brach then got Betts to fly out with 97 mph heat. Brach got three big outs and Zach Britton was called on for a four-out save. He recorded his 42nd save in 42 chances. It was his fourth save of more than three outs.

The O's used four bullpen pitchers and they worked 3 2/3 combined scoreless innings. Against Bundy and the bullpen, Boston batters went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

Homers helped: They often do for the Orioles. Tonight against Boston starter Drew Pomeranz, who was allowing 1.6 homers per every nine innings with the Red Sox, they hit two in the second inning.

J.J. Hardy blasted a three-run shot (No. 9) and Nolan Reimold hit a two-run shot (No. 6) for an early 5-0 lead that was big after last night's blowout loss. Both homers came on 3-2 pitches. The O's got a big insurance run on Jonathan Schoop's 24th homer in the top of the ninth.

The Orioles have now hit 231 homers on the year and have hit 34 in the last 17 games and 54 in the last 25 games. With 18 games to go they take aim at the club record of 257 in 1996.