BOSTON -- Few pitchers enjoy facing the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Rodrigo Lopez is one of them.
Melvin Mora homered twice and drove in four runs, Lopez baffled Boston again and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Red Sox 8-3 in the opener of a day-night doubleheader Thursday.
"I like to pitch here," Lopez said as a smile flashed across his face. "The history of the ballpark and the fans create an awesome atmosphere."
Miguel Tejada added a two-run shot for Baltimore, which won its fourth straight for the first time since May 28-31.
The Orioles scored three runs in the first inning with only one out against rookie Abe Alvarez, making things easier for Lopez. Eight of his 30 career wins have come against the Red Sox.
Kevin Millar hit a two-run homer, and slow-footed David Ortiz had two triples for Boston. The Red Sox have lost three consecutive home games for the first time this season.
"That kid's been tough on us before," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "But we're going to have to do better. We have the people to do better."
Lopez (8-6) gave up one run and 10 hits in six innings, improving to 8-2 in his career against the Red Sox. He is 3-0 with a 1.06 ERA against them this season.
"He did a pretty good job today," Baltimore manager Lee Mazzilli said.
Buddy Groom pitched two innings and allowed Millar's homer before Jorge Julio worked a hitless ninth.
Alvarez (0-1) lost his major league debut after being recalled from Double-A Portland before the game. He gave up five runs and eight hits in five innings, with five walks and two strikeouts.
"I don't think you ever know what to expect when you come in for a debut," Mazzilli said.
Heading into the night game, Boston is a season-high nine games behind the AL East-leading New York Yankees.
"I still think we're going to win the whole thing and nothing's ever going to come easy for us," center fielder Johnny Damon said.
Tejada made a splendid play up the middle to end the game on Bill Mueller's grounder, but sat on the grass for a few minutes before limping off.
"It was just a cramp," he said as he pointed to his left calf.
The Orioles grabbed a 3-0 lead in the first. Brian Roberts walked and, after David Newhan struck out, Mora hit an RBI double. Tejada then homered into the seats above the Green Monster, tying Ortiz for the AL lead with 87 RBI.
Gabe Kapler's RBI single cut it to 3-1 in the second, but Mora hit a solo homer into Boston's bullpen in the third.
Jerry Hairston's RBI double made it 5-1 in the fifth, though Javy Lopez was cut down at the plate on shortstop Nomar Garciaparra's relay.
Roberts' RBI triple off reliever Mark Malaska made it 6-1 in the sixth. Millar's homer, his second in two games, cut it to 6-3 in the eighth.
Mora's second homer made it 8-3 in the ninth. He had three hits and scored three times.
Baltimore had a runner picked off third, one doubled up at second when he lost track of the outs and another cut down at the plate in the first five innings.
Notes
- It was Mora's second career two-homer game.
- Alvarez was sent back to the minors after the game. Ricky Gutierrez, acquired Wednesday from the Chicago Cubs for a player to be named or cash, was activated.
- Ortiz has a career-high three triples.
- Tejada was doubled off second to end the third when he forgot how many outs there were on Lopez's popout.
- Several Red Sox players were laughing before the game when they watched a replay of Manny Ramirez cutting off Damon's throw on Newhan's inside-the-park homer in Wednesday's loss.
- The Red Sox signed eighth-round draft pick RHP Kyle Bono from Central Florida. He'll report to Class A Lowell.
- Garciaparra was back in the lineup after getting Wednesday off.
- LHP Jimmy Anderson was designated for assignment when Alvarez was called up.
- Alvarez, at 21 years, 9 months, was the youngest pitcher to make his debut with the Red Sox since Jeff Sellers on Sept. 15, 1985. Sellers was five months younger.
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