Red Sox Pay Price for a Lost Fly Ball

BOSTON — Center fielder Brady Anderson of the Baltimore Orioles felt sorry for his Boston Red Sox counterpart. Not sorry enough to slow down, though.

Damon Buford lost a fly ball in the lights, giving Anderson a triple and sparking a five-run inning Thursday night in the Orioles’ 5-2 win over the Red Sox.

“It was hard seeing the ball all night,” said Anderson, who also had a single and a double. “I had trouble on a ball Buford hit at me. But the ball I hit was higher, and I knew he would have trouble with it.”

Albert Belle hit a three-run homer to cap the Orioles’ five-run sixth inning, and Scott Erickson (6-8) earned his fifth consecutive victory.

Mike Timlin pitched the ninth for his 10th save.

Jin Ho Cho (2-3) faced the minimum through 4 2/3 innings before falling apart, allowing four consecutive hits that culminated in Belle’s 21st homer. Cho gave up five runs, seven hits and a walk in 5 1/3 innings.

The Red Sox, who have been in playoff position all year, dropped into a virtual tie with the Toronto Blue Jays for the American League wild-card lead, six games behind the New York Yankees. The Blue Jays have gained 7 1/2 games on the Red Sox in 20 days.