Crisp leads BoSox over O's

Coco Crisp went 3-for-4 with a three-run homer and three runs scored and Jason Varitek drove in the go-ahead run in the ninth inning to lead Boston past Baltimore, 7-6, in the opener of a four- game set at Camden Yards.

"He's really starting to hit the ball well," Boston manager Terry Francona said of Crisp.

Kevin Youkilis went 2-for-3 with a run scored for the AL East-leading Red Sox, who have won five of their last six. David Ortiz homered and drove in a pair of runs, while Julio Lugo also knocked one in.

Clay Buchholz (3-0) earned the win by allowing one hit over three relief innings. Starter Tim Wakefield was charged with nine hits and six runs over 3 2/3 frames, for his first no-decision of the season.

Danys Baez (0-6) took the loss by allowing Boston's go-ahead run. O's starter Garrett Olson left after 3 2/3 innings with left forearm tightness, after allowing five hits and five runs with three strikeouts and two walks.

Tike Redman had three hits and scored two runs for the Orioles, who have dropped 14 of their last 16 games. Miguel Tejada collected two hits and two RBI, Kevin Millar hit a two-run home run, and both Nick Markakis and Melvin Mora drove in a run each.

Facing Baez, Crisp started the ninth with an infield single and stole second. Pinch-hitter Varitek punched a base hit to left to score Crisp to give the Sox a 7-6 lead.

Jonathan Papelbon then recorded a pair of strikeouts and set down the Orioles in order in the bottom half to record his 34th save.

Baltimore struck in the first, as Redman singled with one out, stole second, and scored on Tejada's RBI single two batters later. The O's had the bases loaded with two outs, but Wakefield retired Mora on a grounder to end the inning.

Crisp and Doug Mirabelli started the third with back-to-back singles and Lugo's RBI single plated Crisp to tie the score. Dustin Pedroia's ground out moved both runners up one base, then Olson delayed a decision to play Ortiz's dribbler to the mound allowing pinch-runner Royce Clayton to score.

Markakis doubled with one out in the home half and Millar's two-run shot boosted the O's to a 3-2 lead. Aubrey Huff doubled and scored to make it 4-2 on Mora's line-drive up the middle.

In the fourth, walks by Youkilis and J.D. Drew put two men on with one out. A wild pitch put runners on second and third, and Crisp brought them in with a three-run shot to left. After Kevin Cash fanned, Olson departed with the left arm injury.

Baltimore drew even in the bottom of the inning when Redman singled and scored on a Markakis double to center. Tejada followed with a single to score Markakis and assume a 6-5 lead.

However, Ortiz crushed a low Rocky Cherry fastball into the standing room section above the scoreboard in right with one out in the fifth to tie the game, 6-6.

With Buchholz on the hill in the home half, the O's loaded the bases with no outs, but the youngster who pitched a no-hitter in his last appearance last Saturday, rebounded when Tejada grounded into a 5-2-3 double play and Millar fanned to keep the game deadlocked.