Herrera's pinch-hit single ends it as Boston beats O's in ninth

It ended with a broken-bat, pinch-hit bloop single.

That is how the Red Sox ended today's game, beating the Orioles 3-2 with a walk-off victory in the last of the ninth.

After Miguel Gonzalez pitched a strong eight innings, Boston broke a 2-2 tie in the ninth. T.J. McFarland came on and Jonny Gomes reached on a pinch-hit infield single to deep short. He moved to second on a bunt. Then Jonathan Herrera batted for Jackie Bradley Jr. and looped one just past the infield into short center field as Gomes scored for the 3-2 win.

Earlier, Boston took a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Stephen Drew hit a solo homer and later Bradley doubled and scored from second on a two-out infield hit up the middle. Second baseman Jonathan Schoop's throw pulled Steve Pearce off the bag at first. Pearce dropped the throw for an error as the second run scored.

The Orioles took advantage of two Boston errors to tie the game in the third. They plated two runs on an error by third baseman Xander Bogaerts and had just one hit in the inning but ended it in a 2-2 tie.

Both starting pitchers had strong eight-inning outings to get the game tied to the ninth.

After pitching to an ERA of 6.14 with a .385 average against his last three starts, Miguel Gonzalez was excellent today.

The right-hander allowed seven hits and two runs (one earned) with two walks and six strikeouts. He threw 113 pitches and his ERA is now 4.22.

Jon Lester gave up five hits and two unearned runs with no walks and seven strikeouts. Lester threw 118 pitches and lowered his ERA to 2.73.

The Orioles' four-game win streak ends. They fall to 22-17 in American League East games and 46-40 for the season.

In Game 2 tonight at 7:15 p.m., Ubaldo Jimenez (3-8, 4.31 ERA) faces John Lackey (9-5, 3.62 ERA).