Orioles 4, Red Sox 0: Steve Pearce recorded two hits and an RBI while Miguel Gonzalez was impressive en route to his third straight victory as visiting Baltimore took the opener of the three-game series.

Ryan Flaherty and Adam Jones each drove in a run while Nelson Cruz notched a pair of hits and scored twice for the Orioles, who own a 10-game lead over both the New York Yankees and Toronto in the American League East. Gonzalez (9-7) scattered six hits over 6 1/3 innings, walking three and striking out four as he improved to 4-0 lifetime against Boston.

David Ortiz doubled for the only extra-base hit for the Red Sox, who lost for the fourth time in six games. Joe Kelly (3-4) surrendered four runs - three earned - on six hits and three walks in 6 1/3 frames.

Baltimore grabbed the lead in the second as Pearce capped a string of three straight singles to start the inning to plate Cruz with the game's first run. The Orioles made it 3-0 in the sixth, loading the bases before Cruz came home on Flaherty's fielder's choice and Chris Davis scored on Boston shortstop Xander Bogaerts' errant return throw to first.

Jones extended the advantage with a sacrifice fly in the seventh that plated Alejandro De Aza, who reached on a forceout, stole second and advanced to third on catcher David Ross' throwing error. Boston loaded the bases against Gonzalez with one out in the bottom half, but Tommy Hunter came on to strike out Will Middlebrooks and Ross to end the threat.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Red Sox 1B Mike Napoli returned to the lineup after missing a game with an illness, but OF Brock Holt remained out. ... Baltimore SS J.J. Hardy sat out his third straight contest with a sore back. ... Gonzalez has allowed two runs or fewer in nine of his last 10 starts.