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  Sunday, May 14 1:35pm ET
Orioles outscored 35-6 in series
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE

BALTIMORE (AP) -- There was no music in the clubhouse, no spirited high-fives and very little laughter.

In other words, it was virtually impossible to tell that the Boston Red Sox had just moved into first place in the AL East.

Darren Lewis and Brian Daubach homered as the Red Sox completed their first four-game sweep in Baltimore since 1977, beating Mike Mussina and the Orioles 10-1 Sunday.

Mike Mussina
Mike Mussina was the last Baltimore starter to win -- on April 29. The Orioles have lost seven straight.
Boston's season-high fifth straight victory boosted the Red Sox past the New York Yankees, the first time they've stood alone atop the division since last June 8.

If the Red Sox maintain that position, their excitement might soon become evident. On this day, however, the players simply packed their bags for a trip to Toronto.

"I don't think we care about where we're at right now this early in the season," said shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, who was placed on the disabled list before Friday's game. "I think all we care about is playing well. That's all that matters."

Then again, there's absolutely nothing wrong with being in first place, even if there is more than four months left in the season.

"When we're playing in our division and we can put some space between ourselves and the guys in our division, those are big games," Lewis said. "Now that we're in first place, that's nice for our fans. We're excited about that, but we understand it's just May."

Brian Rose (3-2) allowed one run in five innings, and the bullpen did the rest in Boston's eighth consecutive win over Baltimore. The Red Sox outscored the Orioles 35-6 in the series, allowing only two runs in the final three games.

Boston's relievers didn't allow a run over 12 1/3 innings. In contrast, Baltimore's bullpen gave up 22 runs in 10 1/3 innings, a whopping 18.56 ERA.

"The whole story of this series was their pitching," Mussina said. "That's what got them into the playoffs last year, and it's got them back in the same situation this year."

It was the seventh straight loss for the Orioles, who last dropped a four-game series at home against Boston on June 20-23, 1977.

"It's going to be an ordeal to get this out of the way. Once we do that, we'll be all right," manager Mike Hargrove said. "If we trust in our abilities and stay focused on what we're trying do, this thing will turn around. We still have good players on this team."

Mussina (1-5) allowed three runs and six hits, including two home runs, in seven innings. Off to the worst start of his career, the Orioles' ace has yielded 14 homers this season compared to 16 all last year.

The right-hander was again victimized by a lack of support. Baltimore has averaged 2.9 runs in his nine starts and 6.1 runs in its other 28 games.

Boston was nursing a 2-1 lead before Daubach led off the sixth with his eighth home run, a 408-foot shot to center.

After Mussina left, the Red Sox pulled away with a seven-run eighth. B.J. Ryan issued three straight walks and was removed with a 2-0 count on Mike Stanley. Jose Mercedes finished the walk, forcing in a run, and Donnie Sadler bounced a three-run double under the glove of second baseman Mark Lewis.

"That play should have been made," Hargrove said.

Jose Offerman followed with an RBI single, his ninth hit in the series, Darren Lewis singled before Trot Nixon hit a two-run triple.

Lewis put the Red Sox up 1-0 in the first with a drive that barely cleared the left-field wall, his first home run since June 14.

In the Baltimore fourth, 41-year-old Harold Baines singled with two outs and was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a double by Jeff Conine.

Boston made it 2-0 in the fifth when Sadler hit a two-out bloop double and scored on a single by Offerman.

The Orioles got a run in their half when Rose walked Mike Bordick with the bases loaded, but B.J. Surhoff followed with a short fly and Albert Belle did the same on a 3-2 count.

Game notes
The Orioles put RHP Calvin Maduro on the disabled list with a sprained ligament in his elbow and recalled RHP Al Reyes from Triple-A Rochester. ... The last Baltimore starter to earn a win was Mussina on April 29. ... Boston OF Carl Everett missed a third straight start with a hamstring injury. ... Baltimore has lost 11 of 12 and is 5-17 since April 22. ... Boston is 15-3 when scoring first. ... The Red Sox lowered their AL-best ERA to 3.46.

 


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