Cody Ross doubled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, Andrew Bailey escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth and the Boston Red Sox ended Baltimore's six-game winning streak, beating the Orioles 2-1 on Sunday.
The Orioles began the day one game behind the first-place New York Yankees in the AL East and two games ahead of Oakland for the top wild-card spot in the league.
Boston stopped its four-game losing streak after Dustin Pedroia led off the eighth with a double against Luis Ayala (5-5 ) and Ross followed with his tiebreaking hit.
A double by Jim Thome helped Baltimore load the bases with one out in the ninth. But Bailey got Manny Machado on a forceout at home and struck out pinch-hitter Ryan Flaherty to finish it.
The Orioles dropped to 27-9 in one-run games.
The Oakland A's kept the Yankees from opening their lead as Cliff Pennington hit a go-ahead single in the sixth inning after a key error by backup shortstop Eduardo Nunez, edging New York 5-4 yesterday and stopping the Yankees' seven-game winning streak.
A day after their stunning 14-inning loss - capped by a misplay on Nunez's grounder - the A's maintained their 2{-game lead for the second AL wild-card spot over the Angels, who played later.
Despite the defeat, the Yankees have to like their chances to win the division - their final 10 games are against three teams with records below .500.
After Oakland twice lost in extra innings in the Bronx, closer Grant Balfour watched in disbelief as Alex Rodriguez hit a fly to right in the ninth inning. Balfour appeared to think it would be a home run, but the ball fell softly into Josh Reddick's glove at the wall. Balfour then struck out Robinson Cano for his 20th save.
