Lester, Ortiz carry Red Sox over Orioles 5-0

[July 29, 2013]  BALTIMORE (AP) -- Jon Lester allowed four hits over seven innings, David Ortiz went 4 for 4 with his 20th home run and the Boston Red Sox beat the Baltimore 5-0 Sunday to earn their first series win over the Orioles in two years.

Mike Napoli had two doubles and an RBI for the Red Sox, who took two of three in this duel between AL East foes. Boston had lost six straight series to Baltimore since a four-game sweep in July 2011.

All four hits against Lester (10-6) were singles. He struck out eight, walked two and did not allow a runner past second base. The right-hander improved his lifetime record against the Orioles to 15-2, although he lost his previous two decisions against them.

On Saturday night, Ortiz shattered the casing of two dugout phones after being ejected from the game. On Sunday, he put his bat to better use.

Ortiz hit a two-run shot off Jason Hammel (7-8) in the third inning to put Boston up 3-0. Big Papi has 12 consecutive 20-homer seasons, the last 11 with Boston. Only Ted Williams, with 16, had more as a member of the Red Sox.

Ortiz also had three singles, tying his season high in hits.

Hammel allowed three runs, six hits and a career-high tying five walks in 5 1-3 innings. The right-hander is 0-6 with a 5.63 ERA in 10 starts since May 27.

Baltimore's Chris Davis went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts. He has not added to his major league-leading home run total of 37 since July 14, and he has struck out in 22 straight games -- including 10 in the last four games.

It was only the fourth time this season the Orioles have been blanked, tied with Tampa Bay for lowest in the AL.

Hammel needed 27 pitches to get out of a rocky first inning. After a two-out RBI double by Napoli put runners at second and third, Mike Carp struck out.

Ortiz made it 3-0 in the third with an opposite-field drive to left following a single by Jacoby Ellsbury.

In the eighth, Ortiz singled and Napoli doubled before Jarrod Saltalamacchi hit a two-run single.

NOTES: Boston returns home to face Tampa Bay on Monday night in the makeup of Thursday's rainout. Felix Doubront (7-4) will face Rays LHP David Price (5-5). ... Baltimore recalled OF L.J. Hoes from Triple-A Norfolk and designated pitcher Jairo Asencio for assignment. Hoes went 0 for 3 in his third major league game. ... Boston improved to an AL-best 20-11 in day games. ... Baltimore fell to 9-5 in the pivotal game of a three-game series. ... Napoli has had multiple extra-base hits in 11 games this season. ... Ortiz has reached base in 32 of his last 34 games.

[Associated Press; By DAVID GINSBURG]

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