Red Sox Rally for 6-4 Victory

Like the Boston Marathon leaders passing near Fenway Park, the Boston Red Sox had a finishing kick.

Led by Mike Greenwell and Marty Barrett, the Red Sox rallied for five runs in the eighth inning Monday to beat the Baltimore Orioles, 6-4.

Greenwell triggered the rally with a two-run homer and Barrett capped it with a two-run single. In between, Rick Cerone got an RBI with a bases-loaded walk.

“When Ellis (Burks) led off the eighth with a triple, we knew we were going to pull it out,” Barrett said. “Then two pitches later Greenwell hit the home run and we were ahead 3-2.”

Greenwell said his fourth homer of the season came off a changeup by reliever Brian Holton (1-2).

“I was able to stay on it because it was up,” Greenwell said. “If it were down, it would’ve been a different story.”

The Orioles scored two runs in the ninth, but fell short in their bid to win consecutive games on the road for the first time since August 1987.

“Holton is going to have to establish his fastball in this league,” Baltimore Manager Frank Robinson said. “If ballclubs are patient enough, they can give him a tough time late in the game.”

Robinson didn’t get much help from the Baltimore bullpen.

With two on in the eighth, Mark Williamson came in and walked two batters to force in a run. Kevin Hickey replaced Williamson and struck out Wade Boggs before Barrett lined a single to right.

“We finally got a hit with the bases loaded and it won us a game,” Boston Manager Joe Morgan said.

The Orioles opened the ninth with three singles off Lee Smith (1-1) who replaced starter Wes Gardner in the eighth. The third single, by Randy Milligan, drove in Cal Ripken and made it 6-3.

Bob Stanley relieved Smith and got Francisco Melendez on a fielder’s choice before pinch-hitter Jim Traber made it 6-4 with a sacrifice fly.

Stanley then earned his second save by retiring Rene Gonzales on a game-ending fielder’s choice. Gardner went seven innings, allowing four hits and matching his career high with eight strikeouts.

Boston took a 1-0 lead in the first on a double by Barrett, a pair of walks and a sacrifice fly by Jim Rice.

Gardner retired the first nine batters before Brady Anderson opened the fourth with a ground double just inside the first base bag. Anderson took third on Phil Bradley’s bloop single and scored the tying run as Mike Devereaux grounded into a double play.

Baltimore took a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning when Gonzales walked, stole second and third and scored on an infield grounder. Gonzales, who stole only two bases in 92 games last year, has four steals this season.