BALTIMORE - One day after being victimized by the greatest comeback in Baltimore Orioles history, the Boston Red Sox staged an improbable rally of their own.
They used a four-run ninth inning to pull even, Julio Lugo singled in the deciding run in the 11th inning, and Jonathan Papelbon became Boston's career save leader by closing out a 6-5 victory over Baltimore.
Papelbon got three outs in the 11th for his 20th save this season and 133d with the Red Sox, breaking the team record, held by Bob Stanley.
Less than 24 hours earlier, Papelbon yielded the key hit in the eighth inning of a game in which Boston blew a 10-1 lead before losing, 11-10.
"Obviously, it feels good," Papelbon said of the record. "When I set out to be the closer of the Boston Red Sox, there were definitely a lot of goals in sight and this was one of them.
"To finally get it and get it out of my head, you know, to stop thinking about it, is definitely good for me. It's done with. Let's move on."
In this one, Red Sox pitchers retired the final 24 batters. Ty Wigginton hit a leadoff homer in the fourth off Josh Beckett to put the Orioles up by 5-1, but the drive provided Baltimore's final baserunner.
Orioles starter Brad Bergesen gave up one run, struck out six, walked none, and permitted only two runners past first base in eight innings. He was pulled after 103 pitches and with Baltimore comfortably ahead.
Then came the Boston ninth, in which Kevin Youkilis delivered a two-run homer and Rocco Baldelli a two-run single.
Boston 001 000 004 01 – 6 10 0
Baltimore 112 100 000 00 – 5 6 1
Boston AB R H BI Avg. Baltimore AB R H BI Avg.
J.Drew rf 5 1 2 0 .265 B.Roberts 2b 4 2 1 0 .278
Pedroia 2b 5 1 2 1 .291 Pie cf 5 0 1 1 .234
Youkilis 3b 5 1 1 2 .314 Markakis rf 5 0 1 2 .298
Bay lf 5 0 0 0 .262 A.Huff 1b 5 0 0 0 .270
D.Ortiz dh 5 0 1 0 .225 Scott dh 3 1 1 1 .299
Ellsbury cf 5 2 2 0 .304 Reimold lf 4 0 0 0 .288
Kotsay 1b 3 0 0 0 .289 Wigginton 3b 4 1 1 1 .266
