Orioles improve playoff hopes with shelling of Red Sox

Cedric Mullins led off the game with a home run and added a two-run triple in Baltimore's four-run second inning and Anthony Santander homered twice as the Orioles pounded the host Boston Red Sox for a 14-8 victory on Monday.

Gunnar Henderson and Austin Hays also homered and Kyle Stowers had three hits, including an RBI triple, to help Baltimore boost its playoff chances by winning the opener of a four-game series.

The Orioles (80-73) moved within 3 1/2 games of the idle Seattle Mariners (83-69) in the race for the third and final American League wild card.

J.D. Martinez and Rob Refsnyder homered for the Red Sox, and Enrique Hernandez had two run-producing singles for three RBIs. This marked the first game since Boston (72-81) was officially eliminated from playoff contention.

The Red Sox have lost six in a row and nine of their past 12.

The Orioles led 6-5 through four innings, with the Red Sox having already racked up 11 hits.

Then Santander got going, socking home runs in the sixth and seventh innings to give him 31 for the season.

Mullins has 16 homers this year, and his latest blast helped set the tone. Jorge Mateo doubled home a run in the second inning for the Orioles, who snapped a two-game skid that followed three consecutive victories.

Spenser Watkins (5-6) was the winning pitcher despite giving up four runs in 4 1/3 innings of relief.

A 1-hour, 40-minute rain delay took place prior to the top of the third inning with the Orioles leading 5-2.

Orioles starter Jordan Lyles was dinged for two second-inning runs, the first coming on Martinez's 13th home run of the season.

There were more rough times for Boston's Connor Seabold (0-4), who was ripped for the third straight start. He remains in search of his first victory in the majors after yielding five runs (four earned) on five hits in two innings on Monday.

Baltimore batters struck out seven times but drew eight walks -- three apiece by Henderson and Ryan Mountcastle. The Orioles scored in every inning except for the fourth and the ninth. Baltimore has reached a double-digit run total in two of its past three games.