line.When Zobrist returned to the dugout to fetch his

BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Orioles knew all along that this four-game series against Boston would go a long way toward determining their status in the playoff hunt.Having lost the first three games in distressing fashion, the Orioles can pretty much shift their focus toward the wild card race.A throwing error by first baseman Chris Davis provided the Red Sox with five unearned runs and doomed the Orioles to a 5-1 defeat Wednesday night.Andrew Benintendi hit a three-run homer for the Red Sox, who will seek to complete a sweep on Thursday. Boston pulled five games ahead of Toronto and dropped the Orioles six games back with 10 games remaining.Its definitely not the position we want to be in, Davis said. We just havent been able to get the runs when we need them and have kind of put ourselves behind the 8-ball right now.The loss kept Baltimore a game behind the Blue Jays for the top AL wild card. The Orioles have lost five of seven, all at home, and scored only nine runs in their last five games.Though the Orioles are struggling, they still control their own fate in the wild card chase.Theyll get it going here, manager Buck Showalter said. If we can get in, I feel real good about this group.Boston trailed 1-0 before rallying against All-Star reliever Brad Brach, who replaced Ubaldo Jimenez (7-12) with two on and one out in the sixth. Aaron Hill hit a dribbler in front of the mound and beat the throw to first base following a miscommunication between Brach and catcher Matt Wieters.That loaded the bases for Jackie Bradley Jr., who struck out on a 3-2 pitch. Sandy Leon then hit a sharp grounder toward Davis, who rushed an off-balance throw that whisked past Brach, allowing two runs to score.Obviously just didnt make a very good throw on it, Davis said. Probably a ball I couldve stayed back on and just gone to the bag, but I just reacted and when I went to throw, it just kind of stuck in my hand.Said Brach: I was just heading over to the bag, and when I picked up (sight) of the ball it was just coming a little hard to me and a little bit out of my reach.Benintendi hit the next pitch over the wall in right field.Its frustrating when they dont get a ball past first base, 90 feet away, and two runs score, Brach said. And obviously I need to make a better pitch on the next batter.Benintendi hit the next pitch over the wall in right field.That all but assured the Red Sox their 12th win in 15 games. They have also won seven of eight on the road.We were given a gift, Boston manager John Farrell said, and we did take every advantage of that extra out.Clay Buchholz (8-10) allowed one run and three hits over seven innings for the Red Sox. Bostons seven-game winning streak, which began with a sweep of the Yankees, is its longest since an identical run early in the 2014 season.After the Red Sox loaded the bases in the first inning but failed to score, the Orioles capitalized on the same situation in the third when Adam Jones hit a sacrifice fly.Boston again filled the bases in the fourth before Leon bounced into a 3-6-1 double play.The next time the Red Sox loaded the bases, two innings later, they finally came through -- albeit with a little help from Davis.TRAINERS ROOMRed Sox: 2B Dustin Pedroia was back in the lineup after being held out Tuesday to get treatment on his left knee. . 1B Hanley Ramirez is dealing with a sore left shoulder and got the night off. He is expected to return Thursday. ... RHP Steven Wright (shoulder) threw from 120 feet at the teams minor league facility in Fort Myers, Florida. He could throw a bullpen session this weekend.Orioles: OF Steve Pearce underwent successful surgery on his forearm Wednesday.UP NEXTRed Sox: LHP David Price (16-8, 3.91 ERA) brings a seven-game winning streak into the series finale.Orioles: RHP Chris Tillman (16-6, 3.72) attempts to reach a career-high in wins and keep Baltimore afloat in the AL East. Nike Shox Clearance Australia . In what the team had called a retirement, Ryan said Thursday that he is resigning as chief executive of the Rangers in a move effective at the end of this month. Nike Shoes Wholesale Australia . Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, will next play South Africas Kevin Anderson, who eliminated American Sam Querrey,7-6 (2), 6-4. Also Wednesday, Gilles Simon (6) of France beat Donald Young of the United States 6-4, 6-3, Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2. http://www.cheapnikeshoxaustralia.com/ . -- Teemu Selanne scored the first goal of his 22nd NHL season, and the Anaheim Ducks extended the best start in franchise history with their fifth straight victory, 3-2 over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. Nike Shox Clearance Sale .5 seconds to play in the game, Kevin Love never stopped believing that they would come out of there with a win. Nike Shox Australia Sale . Tests earlier this week revealed a Grade 2 left hamstring strain for Sabathia, who was hurt in last Fridays start against San Francisco. Its an injury that will require about eight weeks to heal. He finished a disappointing campaign just 14-13 with a career-worst 4. CLEVELAND -- This is why Ben Zobrist came home. And this is why?Chicago Cubs?manager Joe Maddon wanted him so badly.The Cubs needed a veteran in the clubhouse to teach their seemingly endless supply of budding stars, someone whod been there. Whod done that. Who cared little about curses or droughts. Who knew what Maddon wanted and how to translate it.Zobrist, fresh off a World Series title with the Kansas City Royals, was searching for a place to spend the final years of his consistently fine career. He grew up in central Illinois, just two hours away from Wrigley Field, so playing for the Cubs seemed like a viable option.And there he was, early Thursday morning, standing in the batters box in the top of the 10th inning in Game 7 of the World Series and facing a two-strike count with the potential go-ahead run on second base. Then the 35-year-old switch-hitter did something that might have encapsulated everything Maddon loves about him.Zobrist shortened his swing. He fouled off one pitch to stay alive. His next swing provided the final blow in Chicagos seasonlong bout with the weight of history: He hit a double inside third base that scored pinch runner Albert Almora Jr.?with the decisive run in an 8-7 victory that gave the Cubs their first World Series championship since 1908.Zobrist ended up winning the World Series MVP award.Cleveland reliever Bryan Shaw intentionally walked Chicago slugger Anthony Rizzo to face Zobrist, who entered the game hitting .391 in the Series but had gone hitless in his past four at-bats. Shaw quickly got ahead 1-2, before Zobrist poked a foul ball down the third-base line past a diving Jose Ramirez. The next pitch was more of the same. In a situation where some of his teammates would have swung for the ouuter reaches of Progressive Field, Zobrist settled for making contact.ddddddddddddThe normally understated Zobrist pointed toward the sky after his 10th and final hit of the Series. In response, the blue-clad Cubs fans in attendance roared once more.I know he threw a pretty hard cutter, Zobrist said of Shaw. I just barely hung in there, and fortunately, he put one just close enough to the plate where I could slap it down the line.When Zobrist returned to the dugout to fetch his glove and run back out to his spot in left field, the Cubs lead was two runs. Barely 10 minutes later, Zobrist sprinted to join the dogpile in the infield, after Kris Bryant threw to Rizzo at first for the final out.Last fall, Zobrist helped the Royals beat the New York Mets in five World Series games. When he went looking for a job, there was really only one place to go: Chicago.When Zobrist signed a four-year, $56 million deal in December, Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said, Ben is a winning baseball player. His offense, his defense, his baserunning -- hes been one of the more valuable players in the game for a long time.Zobrist came to Wrigley Field without an ego. He played primarily at second base but also spent time in left field and right field. Always without complaint. Always with the greater goal in mind.A goal that was realized after Clevelands Rajai Davis tied the score with a stunning, two-run homer off Chicago closer Aroldis Chapman in the eighth inning. After the ninth inning ended, there was a 17-minute rain delay. And then the Indians dared Zobrist to be the difference.He came through once more. ' ' '