Red Sox Top the Orioles With a Rally of Their Own

Red Sox 6, Orioles 5

BALTIMORE, July 1 -- The momentum from Tuesday's improbable Orioles comeback at Camden Yards undoubtedly had legs for most of Wednesday afternoon. Key hits were falling in, Boston's ace was falling apart and Brad Bergesen, the Orioles' rookie pitching sensation, was mowing down Red Sox hitters as if they had "Pawtucket" written on the front of their uniforms.

Yet just when it was reasonable to believe these plucky Orioles had stolen two of three from the mighty Red Sox, the home team re-gifted Tuesday's historic victory, presenting it back to Boston in the form of a four-run ninth-inning collapse and a 6-5 Red Sox win in 11 innings.

"We had them on the ropes," said Orioles reliever Jim Johnson, who didn't retire either batter he faced while allowing a two-run homer to Kevin Youkilis to ignite Boston's ninth-inning rally.

"The momentum kind of carried over from yesterday. We had it and we just let it go."

Johnson and closer George Sherrill had been charged with just two runs in their previous 40 1/3 innings. They gave up four runs and managed just two outs in Wednesday's ninth.

After Youkilis's homer, Sherrill entered and struck out Jason Bay and David Ortiz. With one out standing between him and his 14th consecutive save, Sherrill allowed a single and consecutive walks to load the bases. He thought he had Jason Varitek struck out, but the umpires ruled Varitek checked his swing on ball four.

Pinch-hitter Rocco Baldelli followed with a two-run single to tie the game, and the Red Sox pushed across the winning run in the 11th when Jacoby Ellsbury led off with a double and scored on a one-out single by Julio Lugo.

Jonathan Papelbon pitched a perfect inning for his 20th save and sent the roaring Boston fans in the announced crowd of 29,391 home happy.

"No excuses," said Sherrill, who hadn't yielded multiple runs since April 24, a string of 24 appearances. "Just couldn't do it."