Red Sox Sunk by Alomar’s Power

BALTIMORE — Roberto Alomar hit three home runs, his first extra-base hits of the season, and had a career-high six runs batted in as the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Boston Red Sox, 14-5, Saturday.

Boston took a 3-0 lead in the first inning when Mo Vaughn hit his fifth homer after Shane Mack singled. Mike Stanley followed a home run.

However, Aaron Sele (3-1), trying for his second win against the Orioles in six days, lasted only 1 2/3 innings. He gave up five runs, seven hits and hit two batters.

Alomar started the season by serving a five-game suspension for spitting at umpire John Hirschbeck, and he has been bothered by a sprained left ankle.

The three homers were a career high for Alomar, who has hit two homers in a game five times.

Alomar said he wasn’t trying to hit home runs--until he came to the plate in the seventh. At that point, with a victory already assured, he was going for a piece of history.

Alomar missed tying a record with four homers in a game by hitting a sacrifice fly to the warning track in right field.

“The fourth time, yeah, I was thinking about it,” he said. “I thought it had a chance, but, hey, I’ll take three.”