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Wednesday, Jun. 28 7:05pm ET
Surhoff's hitting streak reaches 21 games | |||||
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GAME LOG
BOSTON (AP) -- About the only thing predictable about the Baltimore Orioles' 8-7, 11-inning victory over the Boston Red Sox was B.J. Surhoff's bat. The teams combined to blow three leads in the last five innings Wednesday night, Boston sent two pitchers to the plate, and normally reliable Red Sox closer Derek Lowe blew his second save in as many days, but Surhoff kept banging hits. Surhoff went 5-for-6 and scored the winning run on Harold Baines' double off Bryce Florie (0-3). "I feel real good at the plate," Surhoff said. "I'm seeing the ball well, getting a few breaks here and there. ... I'm just seeing the ball much better." The five hits matched a career best and extended Surhoff's hitting streak to 21 games, equaling a personal best. Surhoff endured a tough stretch in late April and May when he batted .129 (12-93). "B.J.'s a very good hitter," Baltimore manager Mike Hargrove said. "He's slowly and surely climbing back to where his talent says he should be." Jose Mercedes (3-3) pitched one inning and Buddy Groom worked the 11th for his fourth save in 10 chances and second in two days. The victory was Baltimore's second straight after nine losses in a row. "It doesn't count any more, but it sure helps with your confidence," Surhoff said. "We've lost a bunch of close games. It's nice to win them." Boston has lost nine of 11 and five straight. "There's not a lot you can take out of them," Boston manager Jimy Willliams said. "We're not getting the Ws -- not the results we want." The teams took turns staging late-game comebacks before Baines finally won it. Baltimore tied it in the ninth when Surhoff doubled with one out off Lowe and scored on Will Clark's triple under the glove of sliding center fielder Darren Lewis. "If I catch it, the game's probably over," Lewis said. Lowe stranded Clark at third, retiring Jeff Conine on a grounder to short and getting Charles Johnson on a grounder. The blown save was Lowe's second in a row and fourth in 21 chances. "You very rarely see it," Johnson said. "He's been pitching well. You normally don't want to see him close out a game." Boston took a 7-6 lead in the eighth on two-out, RBI singles by Jose Offerman and pinch-hitter Scott Hatteberg. The Red Sox rallied after Johnson's home run in the eighth off Rod Beckbroke a 5-5 tie. Johnson has homered in three straight games, and has 11 in his last 28. Boston had tied it at 5 in the seventh when Wilton Veras walked, took second on a sacrifice by Offerman and scored on Jason Varitek's double. Boston was forced to send pitcher Pete Schourek to the plate in the ninth inning because Boston had lost the designated hitter when Curtis Pride ran for Morgan Burkhart in the eighth and stayed in the game in left field. Schourek singled, his second hit of the season. Tim Wakefield batted for Florie in the 11th, and laid down a bunt. Game notesDelino DeShields stole his first base since June 8. He is tied for the AL lead with 21 steals. ... Anderson's RBI single in the second was just his third RBI in 15 games. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Baltimore Clubhouse Boston Clubhouse RECAPS Baltimore 8 Boston 7
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