Wiggy and Luke lead O's past Sox, 4-2 at Fenway

Ty Wigginton and Luke Scott, who teamed up to get the Orioles a win over the Yankees in the 11th inning on Sunday, combined for three RBI tonight as the O's beat Boston 4-2 in game one of a three-game series. Wigginton drove in the run that ended Sunday's game and tonight gave the O's a 3-2 lead in the seventh with his 70th RBI of the year, his most since recording 79 in 2006 with Tampa. The Orioles have won seven of 10, 11 of 15 and 15 of their last 22 games. They are 12-3 in series-opening games under Buck Showalter. The O's came to bat in the 7th in a 2-2 tie. With one out, Brian Roberts walked and Nick Markakis doubled off Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Daniel Bard came on and Wigginton's sac fly gave the O's a 3-2 lead. Scott's RBI single to right made it a 4-2 O's edge with both runs charged to Matsuzaka. Brian Matusz pitched well again vs. the Red Sox, but did not get a decision. He left with a 2-1 lead after five, but Boston tied it 2-2 in the 6th vs. David Hernandez, who pitched two innings and did get the win. After Jim Johnson pitched a scoreless eighth, Koji Uehara retired the side in order on just nine pitches in the ninth. He picked up his 10th save and the four O's pitchers combined on a five-hitter. Matusz gave up three hits and one run, throwing 101 pitches, 38 in the first inning. He has an ERA of 1.91 over his last six starts and 2.43 in five career starts vs. Boston. The Red Sox, who began the night 6 ½ games back in the wild-card race, lost at home to the O's for just the fourth time in the past 21 games. The Birds are now 8-8 on the year vs. Boston and are 9-3 in their last 12 games vs. the AL East. They are now 28-17 (.622) under Showalter and 12-7 in road games since Showalter took over.