BALTIMORE — In a season that already has been full of adversity, the Baltimore Orioles got a much-needed lift from seldom-used outfielder David Lough on Saturday.
After Baltimore blew a ninth-inning lead and then fell behind in the 10th against the Boston Red Sox, Lough provided a dramatic 5-4 win with a homer.
Baltimore snapped a five-game losing streak. The Red Sox have lost five of eight games since starting the season 7-3.
“I’m a team-first guy and have always been that way,” Lough said. “Good to get a team win and see everyone smile.”
Boston shortstop Xander Bogaerts led off the 10th inning with a home run off Baltimore right-hander Brad Brach, giving the Red Sox a 4-3 lead. But Orioles center fielder Adam Jones led off in the bottom half of the inning with a triple off Koji Uehara (1-1) and first baseman Chris Davis tied the game on a sacrifice fly. Lough followed with a towering shot to right for the victory.
“Much-needed win,” Jones said. “This team is made to be resilient. We’ve got testicular fortitude in this clubhouse, guys who are willing to put it all out there on the line and live with the results.”
Baltimore’s Jimmy Paredes had a career-high four hits, including his third home run of the season. Brian Matusz (1-2) got the win by finishing the 10th for Baltimore.
Red Sox manager John Farrell said Uehara simply didn’t have his usual command.
“He probably doesn’t have the finish to his fastballs we’ve seen,” Farrell said. “He’s gone to his split a few times, and then he gets deep in the count (and throws a) fastball out over the plate.”
The game was a rematch between Boston right-hander Justin Masterson and Orioles lefty Wei-Yin Chen, who met for the second time in less than a week. In the first meeting, Masterson got the best of Chen in Boston’s 7-1 victory.
This time, both pitchers were effective.
Chen tied a career high by pitching eight innings and retired the final 12 batters he faced. He allowed two runs on four hits and one walk, with five strikeouts.
Masterson gave up three runs on seven hits and one walk in seven innings. He struck out three.
“In the end, they were the resilient team tonight,” Masterson said. “We battled and fought really hard as an entire team and scratched out some runs. I thought we had a really good chance there at the end. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out.”
Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli got his first home run since Sept. 1, a span of 87 at-bats.
The Orioles opened a 2-0 lead when left fielder Alejandro De Aza and Paredes, the designated hitter, got back-to-back doubles to open the bottom of the first inning. Davis later followed with a sacrifice fly.
The Red Sox tied the game in the second on a two-run homer by Napoli that hit the right-field foul pole. Baltimore has allowed 10 homers in the past five games.
A two-out single for right fielder Allen Craig in the fourth nearly gave Boston the lead, but De Aza easily threw out left fielder Hanley Ramirez as he tried to score from second.
Paredes then came up big again with a towering solo home run to right-center in the fifth.
Baltimore closer Zach Britton eventually entered in the ninth with a one-run lead and loaded the bases with one out on a walk and two singles. Orioles third baseman Manny Machado then made a throwing error on a grounder by Pablo Sandoval that tied the game at 3-3.
Hundreds of protesters, outraged over the death of a 25-year-old man who died after being arrested by Baltimore police, gathered outside Camden Yards and smashed car windows, damaged store fronts and threw objects at law enforcement officials. Police helicopters hovered above the stadium throughout the game.
“It’s such a challenge,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “You’ve got a wet ball, you’ve got the field. It’s tough. You play in all types of situations. There’s a lot of things going on around our city. And rightfully so, your mind wanders some. We’re all human beings. Really proud.”
NOTES: Orioles manager Buck Showalter missed the beginning of the game to attend the memorial service for his father-in-law in Nashville, Tenn., but was back in the dugout by the third inning. … Boston recalled RHP Matt Barnes from Triple-A Pawtucket after RF Shane Victorino (right hamstring injury) was placed on the 15-day DL. … Orioles C Matt Wieters (right elbow tendinitis) is expected to catch as many as five innings in an extended spring training game Monday. … After starting seven of the past 10 games, Red Sox INF Brock Holt was held out of the lineup despite batting .424.