Baltimore Orioles defeat Boston Red Sox, 12-9

BALTIMORE — As the solo home run settled past the fence in straightaway center field Friday night, the giant scoreboard changed slightly.

Next to J.D. Drew’s name in the lit-up Red Sox lineup, his batting average ticked up to .200. Welcome to the Mendoza Line.

Though Drew would eventually end the game back under the line (.197), the point was made. It was the second of two solo home runs for Drew, the first one having gone to left just out of reach of Luke Scott’s glove...

BALTIMORE — As he does prior to most games, Scott Schoeneweis wrapped a white tube sock around his unruly mass of hair before going to work out yesterday afternoon. The lefthanded reliever was still a member of the Red Sox.

“At least for another day,’’ he said.

With Daisuke Matsuzaka coming off the disabled list to face the Baltimore Orioles last night, the Sox needed a roster spot and decided to keep Schoeneweis instead of Alan Embree, who was designated for assignm...

BALTIMORE — As Matt Wieters rounded the bases, cheered by a stadium full of orange-clad fans grasping at a chance to celebrate, there was little left for Daisuke Matsuzaka to do. He had turned a stellar beginning, full of wicked sliders and on-target fastballs, into a debacle, a beatdown by the Orioles, who have only six wins on the season, three of which have come against the Red Sox.

Matsuzaka’s return had signaled hope for a rotation strangled by its own high expecta...