Final: Red Sox 6, Orioles 5 - Durbin hits game-winning home run in eighth inning, Red Sox win 14th straight

The Boston Red Sox extend their win streak to 14 games after a 6-5, back-and-forth scoring game against the Baltimore Orioles.

Both teams traded runs throughout tonight's contest, but a solo home run from Caleb Durbin in the eighth inning became the winning run to snap Baltimore's seven-game winning streak.

The Orioles jumped to an early lead in the first inning with two consecutive hits against Payton Tolle. With two outs, Gunnar Henderson and Tyler O'Neill both snuck in doubles along the left and right foul lines to give Baltimore a 1-0 lead.

Boston tied the game quickly in the second inning. They started with two consecutive base hits to begin the inning, and Jarren Duran drove home Willson Contreras for an RBI sac fly.

The Red Sox then took their first lead in the third inning. An error by Jeremiah Jackson extended the inning for Boston, and the Red Sox took advantage of the miscue with back-to-back RBI base hits from Wilyer Abreu and Contreras. 

The Orioles clawed their way back in the fifth and sixth innings to retake the lead. They scored three runs against Tolle, who finished his night allowing four earned runs through 5.2 innings on the mound. Despite this, Boston's rookie left-hander struck out nine batters during his short stint on the mound.

In same sixth inning, the Red Sox tied the game again, taking advantage of another error from Baltimore. Abreu made it to first base after an errant throw from Baltimore start Shane Baz, and Contreras made the Orioles pay with his second RBI hit of the game. 

After escaping the sixth inning, Tyronne Guerrero pitched again in the seventh, allowing an RBI to O'Neill to regain the lead for Baltimore. However, clutch two-out hitting by Ceddanne Rafaela in the same inning tied the game yet again. Connor Wong lead off the seventh with a base hit, and with two outs, Rafaela drove in Boston's fifth run of the game against Baltimore reliever Yennier Cano. 

Garrett Whitlock pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning, and the Red Sox recorded their biggest hit of the game in the same inning. With one out and no runners on base, Durbin smashed a solo home run to left field, sending the Fenway Park crowd into a frenzy.

Durbin's home run allowed Aroldis Chapman to enter the game for a save opportunity. The reigning AL Reliever of the Year faced adversity as he tried to ice the game, allowing a walk and double to put runners in scoring position. With two outs in an 0-2 count, O'Neill lined a hard ball to short stop, but Tsung-Che Cheng made a leaping grab to secure Boston's 14 win in a row.

Tonight, Boston showcased clutch situational hitting which gave them the victory. They capitalized off four errors from the Orioles, becoming a key factor towards the victory. Boston's bullpen also allowed one earned run compared to Baltimore's two.

The Red Sox will continue their series with Baltimore tomorrow at 7:10 p.m.

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WHO: Red Sox (50-48) vs Rays (49-51)
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park, Boston
SERIES TO DATE: (0-0), (3-3)
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP Payton Tolle (5-6, 3.11 ERA) vs. RHP Shane Baz (4-9, 4.19 ERA)
TV/RADIO: NESN, MLB Network, WEEI-FM 93.7

LINEUPS

RED SOX

Anthony Seigler (S) 2B
Ceddanne Rafaela (R) CF
Wilyer Abreu (L) RF
Willson Contreras (R) 1B
Masataka Yoshida (L) DH
Caleb Durbin (R) 3B
Jarren Duran (L) LF
Connor Wong (R) C
Tsung-Che Cheng (L) SS

SP Payton Tolle

ORIOLES

Taylor Ward (R) LF
Pete Alonso (R) 1B
Gunnar Henderson (L) SS
Tyler O'Neill (R) RF
Coby Mayo (R) DH
Leody Taveras (S) CF
Jeremiah Jackson (R) 2B
Christian Encarnacion-Strand (R) 3B

SP Shane Baz

WHAT'S UP

The Boston Red Sox look to extend their historic win streak to 14 games as they start their third series of the season against the Baltimore Orioles.

Wilyer Abreu was named the American League Player of the Week on Monday after he hit four home runs and drove in six runs for the Red Sox.

Boston has won 18 of 20 to close within six games of the top spot in the AL East. The Red Sox are the only team to win as many 18 games in a 20-game span this year.