Thome sparks Orioles past Red Sox

Boston, MA, United States (4E Sports) – Veteran slugger Jim Thome sparked a three-run 12th inning with an RBI ground-rule double as the Baltimore Orioles notched their sixth straight win with a 9-6 triumph over the Boston Red Sox Saturday at Fenway Park.

In his first game since July 27, the 42-year-old Thome hit closer Alfredo Aceves’ pitch into deep right field and bounced over the fence, scoring Adam Jones to break a 6-all deadlock.

Endy Chavez and Manny Machado added to the lead with a pair of RBI singles for the final count as the Orioles grabbed their league-leading 16th straight extra-inning win.

Despite the win, the Orioles remained one game behind the New York Yankees for the lead in the American League East. The Yankees outlasted the Oakland Athletics, 10-9, in 14 innings later in the day.

The Orioles also improved to 68-0 when leading after seven innings behind the stellar effort of their bullpen, led by reliever Tommy Hunter, Brian Matusz and Luis Ayala after the Red Sox tied the count at six in the eighth frame.

Hunter (6-8) earned the win after pitching a scoreless 11th while Jim Johnson sealed the win in the 12th for his 47th save in 50 opportunities.

In his second start since joining Baltimore, Randy Wolf lasted five innings, giving up three earned runs on seven hits with two strikeouts.

After Jones gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead with an RBI groundout in the first inning, Wolf gave up an RBI single to Ryan Lavarnway that tied the count.

The Orioles scored two more runs in the second and fourth frames before Wolf surrendered a two-run shot to Danny Valencia that tied the game once again at three.

Baltimore scored three runs in the seventh and eighth innings before the Red Sox delivered three runs of their own against relievers Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop to force extra innings.

Red Sox starter Aaron Cook pitched 5 1/3 innings, surrendering five earned runs on nine hits but it was Aceves (2-10) who earned the loss after giving up three earned runs in the 12th.

The Orioles eye a three-game sweep Sunday when they put Chris Tillman (8-2) on the mound against Felix Doubront (11-9).

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