O's get three early runs but nothing after and lose series finale

The Orioles scored three runs in the first inning today off Boston left-hander Chris Sale. But they could not muster any offense after that. Then a costly throwing error gave Boston the lead and the Red Sox beat the Orioles 7-3 to split the four-game series.

It was a disappointing last two games of the series for the Orioles that leaves them at 29-26 and 1 1/2 games behind Boston for second place. The Orioles fall to 19-10 at home and are 4-3 on this homestand that resumes Tuesday. Boston has won 10 of 14 and is 31-25.

In a 3-3 game, Boston loaded the bases with one out in the sixth on a single and two walks. O's starter Chris Tillman got a huge second out when he fanned Sandy Leon. And then he appeared on the verge of keeping the game tied and stranding three runners when he got ahead 0-2 on the count to Deven Marrero.

But he then threw a pitch that bounced and catcher Francisco Peña blocked it. Mitch Moreland strayed a little too far off third and Peña tried to pick him off. But his throw sailed past Manny Machado to the foul side of the bag and down the left field line as two runs scored for a 5-3 lead. It was a crushing error in a tie game and the O's handed Boston the lead with two walks and the error. Both runs were unearned.

The game got off to a wild start as the Orioles led 3-2 after an inning. Tillman had more first-inning issues and has allowed seven runs in six first innings on the year. Jackie Bradley Jr.'s two-out single scored two runs. It scored Mookie Betts, who led of the game with an infield single, and Andrew Benintendi, who walked.

The Orioles got even and moved ahead in the home first. Joey Rickard doubled and Machado walked with one out. They moved up on a double steal and scored on a Chris Davis two-out, two-run single to left off Sale. Davis punched a 93 mph fastball into left to plate two. When Jonathan Schoop doubled, the Orioles had a 3-2 lead.

In the first innings of his 11 previous starts, Sale had allowed no runs, one hit and struck out 17. He allowed three runs on three hits in the first today.

Benintendi hit two solo homers today. The first off Tillman in the third tied the game 3-3. The second, off Mike Wright in the seventh, added a run to the 5-3 lead. It was Benintendi's first career two-homer game. He also added an RBI single in the ninth to score Boston's last run.

Tillman took the loss to fall to 1-3 with an ERA of 5.59 through six starts. Over six innings, he allowed six hits and five runs (three earned). He threw 103 pitches.

Sale got the win and is 6-2 with an ERA of 2.89. He gave up six hits and three runs over six innings with one walk and nine strikeouts on 110 pitches.

The Orioles will take Monday off and host the Pirates on Tuesday night to start a two-game series.