Bedard Outduels Beckett In Baltimore's 5-3 Victory Over Boston

Tuesday, July 31st 2007, 9:54 pm

By: News On 6

BOSTON (AP) _ Erik Bedard allowed two hits over six innings to win his seventh straight decision, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Boston Red Sox 5-3 on Tuesday night despite two homers by David Ortiz.

Bedard (11-4) struck out six and walked five to give Baltimore its sixth victory in seven games.

Ortiz hit a two-run homer in the third that accounted for the only runs off Bedard, and a solo shot in the eighth that made it 5-3.

Jamie Walker got the last two outs for his fourth save.

Brian Roberts homered on the first pitch from Josh Beckett (13-5) and added an RBI double in the Orioles' three-run third. Beckett allowed five runs, nine hits and two walks, striking out six to lose consecutive starts for the first time this year.

Beckett, who won his first nine starts, is 4-5 since a victory on June 8 put Boston 10 1/2 games up in the AL East. Tuesday's loss cut the lead to just seven games over the New York Yankees, who beat the Chicago White Sox 16-3.

The Red Sox added former Texas closer Eric Gagne at Tuesday's trading deadline to help in the pennant chase, but they didn't even get to use either of the All-Star relievers they already had in the bullpen. Boston sent lefty Kason Gabbard and two minor-league outfielders to the Rangers so Gagne could take some of the load off closer Jonathan Papelbon and setup man Hideki Okajima.

Baltimore went ahead when Roberts hit a looping fly ball that landed on the top of the wall behind Pesky's Pole, about 325 feet from home plate, and bounced into the seats. It was Roberts' ninth homer of the season and his third in the last five games.

Roberts doubled and scored in the third, when the Orioles took a 4-0 lead. Ortiz cut it to 4-2 with his first homer off a lefty this season. Baltimore made it 5-2 on three consecutive hits, including Ramon Hernandez's RBI double.

Beckett then retired the next eight batters.

Bedard, who leads the majors with 181 strikeouts, has allowed four earned runs in his last 35 innings.

Notes: Ortiz had the 26th multihomer game of his career. ... RHP Curt Schilling (right shoulder tendinitis) threw 77 pitches over seven shutout innings in a Triple-A rehab outing for Pawtucket, allowing four hits and striking out four. ... The Orioles announced that manager Dave Trembley will remove the interim tag from his title and finish the season. ... Red Sox RHP Mike Timlin (achy shoulder) threw 24 pitches on the side before the game and would be available Wednesday if needed. ... Boston RHP Brendan Donnelly will have season-ending elbow surgery. ... The grass in center field was dotted with sod to repair sections where the stage stood for last week's Police concert. ... The Red Sox lost for just the fifth time in 29 games against Baltimore dating to the end of the 2005 season.