BOSTON -- Entering Tuesday's game, the Red Sox bullpen had compiled a 1.98 ERA for the past six weeks, the lowest mark for any bullpen in the big leagues.
Boston's relievers picked a bad night for a rare meltdown.
In the tenth inning, after a game-tying two-run home run over the Wall in the bottom of the ninth by Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Alfredo Aceves allowed two runs on three hits in his second inning of work and the Red Sox lost, 8-6.
The Boston bullpen lost a lead in the seventh inning as well. With the Sox clinging to a 4-3 lead, Scott Atchison and Matt Albers combined to allow two runs (plus an inherited runner) on four hits as the Baltimore Orioles overtook the Sox for a 6-4 victory.
The two runs against Atchison brought an end to a scoreless streak that had lasted 19 23 innings.
The Red Sox had taken their first lead of the night in the bottom of the sixth when Mike Aviles singled home one run and a sacrifice fly by Scott Podsednik accounted for another.
The Orioles had taken advantage of an error by Aviles in the third to allow two unearned runs. The Sox pulled even in the fifth when the Orioles committed an error of their own.
Boston Red Sox
Jon Lester pitched into the seventh and was charged with four runs, two of them earned.
Aviles led the Red Sox offense with three hits while Podsednik added two, plus a sacrifice fly and a sacrifice bunt.