masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgFormer Oriole Erik Bedard didn’t make it out of the fourth inning tonight. Rookie Zach Britton didn’t make it out of the fifth.

Nothing here that screams “quality,” but they do classify as starts.

Bedard allowed three runs and five hits in 3 1/3 innings, with three walks and six strikeouts. He threw 84 pitches, 48 for strikes.

Britton was charged with five runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings, with two walks, two strikeouts, one wild pitch and two home runs. He threw 84 pitches, 45 for…Former Oriole Erik Bedard didn’t make it out of the fourth inning tonight. Rookie Zach Britton didn’t make it out of the fifth.

Nothing here that screams “quality,” but they do classify as starts.

Bedard allowed three runs and five hits in 3 1/3 innings, with three walks and six strikeouts. He threw 84 pitches, 48 for strikes.

Britton was charged with five runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings, with two walks, two strikeouts, one wild pitch and two home runs. He threw 84 pitches, 45 for strikes.

Britton will end his rookie season with 11 wins and a 4.61 ERA. In his last start against the Red Sox, he allowed seven earned runs (eight total) in two-thirds of an inning on July 8 and was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. By comparison, he leaves tonight on a high note.

Both walks by Britton came with one out in the fifth. Jason Berken replaced him, and a two-out walk loaded the bases for Ryan Lavarnway, who hit a three-run homer in the fourth.

Lavarnway lifted a fly ball near the right field line, and Nick Markakis saved three runs with an incredible, diving backhanded catch.

Update: Marco Scutaro’s two-run homer off Berken extended Boston’s lead to 7-3 in the sixth. Zach Phillips has entered the game with one out.

Update II: Adam Jones led off the bottom of the sixth with his 25th home run, reducing the Red Sox’s lead to 7-4.

Update III: Lavarnway now has two major league home runs. No. 2 came off Phillips in the eighth.

Red Sox 8, Orioles 4.

Update IV: The Orioles are making it interesting. A two-out RBI single by Chris Davis and a triple by Nolan Reimold have cut the Red Sox’s lead to 8-6 in the eighth.