By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

BALTIMORE — Forget the American League Manager of the Year award. Bobby Valentine should be honored by the International Brotherhood of Magicians.

The Red Sox beat the Orioles, 6-5, Wednesday with a lineup that included a bottom three of Daniel Nava, Scott Podsednik, and Kelly Shoppach.

Nava and Podsednik were not in the majors last season and Shoppach hit .176 for the Rays.

They were 6 for 9 with four runs and four RBIs. Each hit a home run.

The Red Sox haven’t had the last three hitters each homer in a game since Aug. 3, 2003 when Trot Nixon, Bill Mueller, and Doug Mirabelli did it, also at Camden Yards.

Nava’s home run came with two outs in the sixth and gave the Sox a 3-2 lead. Podsednik then singled and scored on a home run by Shoppach to left field. Podsednik later homered in the eighth inning and it proved crucial.

Valentine also got another save out of Alfredo Aceves, the closer who never pitched in relief in spring training.

That’s 10 victories in the last 13 games for Red Sox, who are 22-22 despite having 13 players on the disabled list. They were 5-3 on their road trip.

The Red Sox played for the 20th time in 20 days in five cities. They were 12-8.

"Amazing effort by a group of fabulous professionals who played through a lot of adversity -- time zones, weather, travel," Valentine said. "They did one heck of a job winning the last two series. Going home at .500 is a feather in their cap.

Before the game, Valentine marveled at how the Sox have hung in there.

"I haven’t experienced these travel things and 20 days in row for a while and I couldn’t be more happy with the way the guys reacted to all this stuff,” Valentine said. “The schedule, the travel, the injuries, the weather. There’s been no complaining; guys going well beyond the call of duty. For me, it’s a great thing to see as a manager, the way they’ve really come together.”

The Sox have a day off on Thursday. Safe to say they earned it.

Then there's this: At the moment, the Sox are a game and a half out of the wild card and eventually will get a raft of talent back off the disabled list. It will be a challenge to keep winning with the current roster. But Valentine is proving he's up to the challenge.

That's it for now. Time to hop a flight home. Thanks to everybody for reading today and leaving nearly 500 comments

Game over: Red Sox 6, Orioles 5: Aceves does it again for his 11th save,

Sox are back to .500 at 22-22 and were 5-3 on their road trip. They have won 10 of 13 and 18 of the last 30.

Back with more later.

Middle of the 9th: Red Sox 6, Orioles 5: The Sox went in order. It's up to Aceves to try to close it out and end the road trip on a good note.

Top of the 9th: Red Sox 6, Orioles 5: Padilla walked Markakis before Jones doubled to left. With two in scoring position and no outs. Davis struck out swinging. Betemit then hit a all into no-man's line behind second base. What looked for sure to be a single wasn't as Lin made a great diving catch. Betemit scored but it sure could have been worse.

Aceves then came in and struck out Johnson on four fastballs. Interesting game. Hope you're enjoying the updates. It's fun doing them.

Middle of the 8th: Red Sox 6, Orioles 4: Scott Podsednik homered to right off O'Day. It's a world gone mad here in Baltimore.

Seriously, Podsednik, Shoppach and Nick Johnson (2) all have home runs. What were the odds of that?

Padilla stays on the hill.

Top of the 8th: Red Sox 5, Orioles 4: Hill struck out Exposito and Avery and Padilla struck out Andino. Darren O'Day now in for the Orioles.

Middle of the 7th: Red Sox 5, Orioles 4: Gonzo and Youkilis (3 for 6 since his return) singled with two outs. Middlebrooks then flied to left.

Lin ran for Youkilis and will go to right as Gonzo goes to first. Rich Hill in to pitch.

Top of the 7th: Red Sox 5, Orioles 4: Bard struck out Jones and was pulled for Andrew Miller, who struck out Davis.

Then 2011 Andrew Miller returned as Betemit walked and Johnson homered to right. Johnson has two homers in a game for the first time since 2006. Flaherty grounded out to end the inning.

First runs allowed by Miller since his return from the DL.

Bard's line: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 1 HR, 90 pitches, 49 strikes.

Sox may need another run or two to win this one.

Middle of the 6th: Red Sox 5, Orioles 2: That escalated quickly. Daniel Nava homered with two outs, a line drive to right. Then Podesdnik singled (Scott Podsednik and Nick Johnson have hits in the same game. Is this 2006?) Arrieta was replaced by Luis Ayala and Kelly Shoppach homered to left. That's his second.

So let's review. Will Middlebrooks, Daniel Nava and Kelly Shoppach have RBIs in support of starting pitcher Daniel Bard, who has one strikeout in five innings. Just how the Sox drew it up in spring training.

Bard back out there for the sixth.

Top of the 6th: Red Sox 2, Orioles 2: Bard allowed a leadoff double by Xavier Avery. He then struck out Andino. Yes, Daniel Bard struck somebody out. Whoa, 2011 flashbacks. Then Markakis lined to short and Avery was doubled off. That's twice in a row that has happened to Markakis.

This game is there for the talking for the Sox. Score some runs now and let Miller, Padilla, Hill and Aceves handle it from there.

Middle of the 5th: Red Sox 2, Orioles 2: Red Sox went in order on three grounders.

Top of the 5th: Red Sox 2, Orioles 2: Bard walked two but didn't give up any runs. In his last five starts — over 27.1 innings — Bard has walked 19 and struck out seven. He has four walks and no K'd today. It's hard to believe.

Meanwhile, the inning with a fly ball down the line in right. Gonzalez made a nice backhanded catch about a foot away from the wall. He is playing right field as well if not better than a lot of guys who actually play right field.

Middle of the 4th: Red Sox 2, Orioles 2: Nava singled but that was it for the Sox.

Top of the 4th: Red Sox 2, Orioles 2: Andino walked. But when Markakis lined to short, he was doubled off by Aviles. Jones then singled to right, Gonzalez not quick enough to come in and make the play. Jones was then thrown out stealing,

Middle of the 3rd: Red Sox 2, Orioles 2: Pedroia singled. Ortiz and Gonzalez then grounded to second with the second baseman standing in shallow right field. That's the best "shift" of them all. Because they can't run, just let the second baseman lay back and create angles for balls hit hard on the ground. Makes it an easy play.

Gonzo is 5 for 29 on the trip. Yeesh.

Youkilis walked with two outs before Middlebrooks doubled to left. Pedroia scored. Youkilis didn't pick up Jerry Royster, who was waving him in, and stopped at third. When he started running again he was a dead duck at the plate. He'd have scored had he been running hard.

Top of the 3rd: Orioles 2, Red Sox 1: Where have you gone, Daniel Bard?

The one-time ferocious reliever threw a 91-mph "fastball" to the Ghost of Nick Johnson and he hit into the stands in right field. Bard losing his velocity and throwing meatballs to reclamation projects can't be what the Red Sox had in mind.

They've Joba Chamberlained him. Bard then walked Flaherty, a .152 hitter. But he escaped further damage. He's at 42 pitches.

Middle of the 2nd: Red Sox 1, Orioles 1: Youkilis singled to left and went to third on a single to right my Middlebrooks. As he ran down the line, Middlebrooks yelled out, "I'm coming for you, old man." OK, he really didn't do that.

Anyway, on-base machine Daniel Nava walked to load the bases with one out. Scott Podsednik swung at the next pitch and grounded into a double play. Youkilis scored.

Shoppach walked to keep the inning going before Aviles grounded out. Arrieta is at 44 pitches.

Top of the 2nd: Orioles 1, Red Sox 0: Avery reached on an infield single, the ball dribbling up the first-base line. Bard tried to shovel it to first but he had no chance. Andino then grounded a single up the middle. It was one of the few plays this season that Jose Iglesias would have made that Mike Aviles didn't. Nick Markakis then flied to left. The runners tagged and Avery beat the throw from Nava on a close play.

Bard got ahead of Davis 0-and-2 left the third pitch, a slider, over the plate. Why not throw something in the dirt and get him to chase? Davis hit a fly ball to center, kind of shallow. Podsednik made an accurate throw to the plate but Avery scored. Betemit then lined to right and Adrian Gonzalez handled it.

Middle of the 1st: Red Sox 0, Orioles 0: Aviles reached on an infield single. He broke his bat grounding into the hole in short and the throw was high. Pedroia then popped to right, Ortiz struck out and Gonzalez grounded into the shift on the right side.

Out comes Bard. What's the over/under on his strikeouts today? I'd say 4.5.

Pre-game: Good afternoon from hazy, hot and humid Camden Yards as the Red Sox finish their road trip with a game against the Orioles.

It'll Daniel Bard against Jake Arrieta as the Red Sox try to get to .500 again before getting a day off.

Stick around for updates all game and we'll try to distract you from work. Let's be honest, it's either this or TMZ.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

BALTIMORE — It's a day game after a night game and the 20th game in 20 days for the Red Sox. There was no batting practice on the field but, as always, there are bits of news to report.

Let's press on:

• Scott Podsednik is starting in center field. It's his first start in a major league game since Sept. 9, 2010. You have to give the guy credit. He's 36 and has had a nice 10-year career. But he went back to the minors with three organizations and here he is, back in a major-league lineup.

• Adrian Gonzalez is back in right field. Around 9:15 a.m., Gonzalez was one of a handful of players in the clubhouse (Podsednik, Dustin Pedroia, Josh Beckett were among the others) when Bobby Valentine walked by.

"Is there a lineup?" he asked the manager.

"I was trying to decide where you would play," Valentine said.

"Play me wherever you want," Gonzalez said.

If you think that happens with every player of his caliber, guess again.

• Darnell McDonald, on the DL with an oblique strain, took batting practice today for the first time since he was shut down.

• Andrew Bailey has started throwing in Florida and was scheduled to play catch from 60 feet today.

• Carl Crawford, four weeks off his PRP injection, could start swinging a bat this weekend.

• Ryan Kalish is getting in extended spring training games in Florida. He's still a long ways away from being MLB ready.

• Valentine is reading "Banzai Babe Ruth: Baseball, Espionage, and Assassination During the 1934 Tour of Japan" by Robert K. Fitts. It's about the MLB All-Stars and their 1934 tour of Japan. Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Jimmie Foxx were on the trip along with Moe Berg, who was spying for the United States.

(Speaking of which, "The Catcher Was a Spy: The Mysterious Life of Moe Berg" by Nicholas Dawidoff is a great book.)

• The public address system as played the B-52s and the Ramones this morning. Remember when John Kiley used to play "Beer Barrel Polka" at Fenway before games?

Back later with updates during the game.

Good morning. Here is a preview of today's game:

RED SOX (21-22)
Aviles SS
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Gonzalez RF
Youkilis 1B
Middlebrooks 3B
Nava LF
Podsednik CF
Shoppach C
Pitching: RHP Daniel Bard (3-5, 4.85)

ORIOLES (28-16)
Avery LF
Andino SS
Markakis RF
Jones CF
Davis 1B
Betemit 3B
Johnson DH
Flaherty 2B
Exposito C

Pitching: RHP Jake Arrieta (2-4, 4.72)

Game time: 12:35 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Orioles vs. Bard: Markakis 3-11, Jones 2-8, Wieters 2-8, Johnson 0-2, Andino 0-3, Hardy 0-3, Davis 1-2.
Red Sox vs. Arrieta: Gonzalez 5-8, Pedroia 2-7, Youkilis 1-6, Ortiz 2-4, Aviles 1-3, Nava 1-2, Punto 0-1, Salty 1-2, Shoppach 0-2.

Stat of the Day: Ortiz has at least 10 runs in each of the last 13 seasons going back to 2000, the only player who can currently make that claim. Alex Rodriguez, Carlos Lee, Paul Konerko, Chipper Jones, Vladimir Guerrero and Lance Berkman could join him.

Notes: The Sox are 4-3 on a road trip that ends today. They're also 11-8 in a stretch of 20 games in as many days. They have a day off on Thursday. ... The Sox have won nine of the last 12 games, outscoring the opposition 65-35. ... The Sox have lost four of five games against the Orioles this season and 10 of the last 14 overall. ... Bard is 0-2, 3.27 in 20 career relief appearances against Baltimore. He is 1-3 with a 5.79 ERA in his last four starts this season with seven strikeouts over 23.1 innings. ... Arrieta is 0-2, 5.51 in three career starts against the Sox including 0-2, 5.56 in two starts last season. ... Arrieta has been an all or nothing starter this season. He has gone at least seven innings and allowed one earned or less three times. On three other occasions he has allowed five or more earned runs. ... The Sox have hit 13 home runs in their last six games. ... Gonzalez is 5 of 27 (.185) on the trip with two RBIs. ... Nava has hit .324/.514/.471 in 13 games since being called up. ... Alfredo Aceves has allowed two earned runs in his last 17.1 innings.

Song of the Day: "I've Been Working Too Hard" by Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes.

Felix Doubront pitched well, but Brian Matusz was better as the Orioles beat the Red Sox, 4-1.

Nick Cafardo writes about the latest contrived drama in Boston, David Ortiz claiming he gets no respect.

The notebook has Cody Ross trying to be optimistic about his foot injury and Scott Podesdnik returning to the majors.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

BALTIMORE — The Red Sox were disconsolate about Cody Ross on Monday, believing they had lost the run-producing outfielder for perhaps two months because of a fractured navicular bone in his left foot.

But Ross was somewhat more optimistic after the game tonight, saying his foot felt good and he’s hopeful of returning to the team sooner than first expected.

“I’m definitely not going to put a date on it. Is it going to be 6-8 weeks? Is it going to be 2-4 weeks? Who knows?” Ross said. “It’s going to totally depend how it heals. I feel good today. I’m walking around normal. It doesn’t hurt. It could be a quick recovery.”

Ross fouled a ball off his foot on Friday in Philadelphia and was in Boston on Monday for an MRI. He sought a second opinion here on Tuesday, seeing Dr. Lew Schon. He confirmed the original diagnosis.

Ross was placed on the 15-day disabled list and is wearing a large walking boot to take weight off his foot.

That Ross was feeling close to normal had manager Bobby Valentine feeling better, too.

“At worst case it’s not as bad as we thought it was yesterday. At best case, it’s much better,” he said.

General manager Ben Cherington was more cautious than Valentine, saying Ross could still miss 6-8 weeks.

“We’ve got to get him out of the boot first and then get a better read for how he is,” Cherington said. “Optimistic that feels better every day. Hopefully it’s in the earlier part of that range.”

The Sox want to make sure Ross doesn’t re-injure himself by returning too soon.

“The DL is still necessary. We have to let the thing heal for a while,” Cherington said “Frustrating, tough break for him, but we’ll get him back as soon as we can. Even though he feels better we have to do the right thing and let it heal first.”

The Red Sox now have seven outfielders on the disabled list.

“There’s always your fair share of injuries but not like this” Ross said. “It’s amazing. Probably some kind of record I would assume.”

Also:

• Felix Doubront struck out nine tonight and had 53 in 50 innings this season. He nearly matched Brian Matusz pitch for pitch.

• Kevin Youkilis left without speaking to reporters after going 1 for 3 with a home run.

• The Sox are 4-3 on their road trip, which ends on Wednesday afternoon with Daniel Bard facing Jake Arrieta. It's a 12:35 start.

Catch you then.

Game over: Orioles 4, Red Sox 1

The Red Sox - Pedroia, Ortiz and Gonzalez - go down in order against sinker-balling reliever Jim Johnson, who earned his 16th save. The game was played before 25,171 in 2:57. Matusz improved to 4-4 and Doubront fell to 4-2.

Bottom 8th: Orioles 4, Red Sox 1: Oops. Matt Albers had strung together 11-1/3 scoreless and hitless innings against Baltimore until Wilson Betemit stroked a two-run homer to right with Wieters (walk) aboard. So much for keeping things close.

Top 8th: Orioles 2, Red Sox 1: Time is running out on the Red Sox. Pedro Strop gave up a walk to Daniel Nava, but retired everyone else around him including Scott Podsednik, wearing No. 26, who pinch hit for Marlon Byrd.

Bottom 7th: Orioles 2, Red Sox 1: Doubront is out after six after throwing 108 pitches. he struck out a career-high nine and walked two, allowed four hits, two runs in six innings. Franklin Morales came on and allowed a single to Chris Davis. Morales balked as he made a move to home before throwing to first. Davis advanced to second base. After Tollelson walked, Matt Albers came on and struck out Robert Andino and J.J; Hardy to retire the side.

Top 7th: Orioles 2, Red Sox 1: Red Sox have to be happy that Matusz reached his pitch limit - 101 - after he struck out Adrian Gonzalez for his ninth whiff of the game. He allowed two hits and one run - the Youk homer. He had Red Sox hitters shaking their collective heads going back to the dugout. Sidearmer Darren O'Day came on. He struck out Youk and Middlebrooks.

Bottom 6th: Orioles 2, Red Sox 1: Quite a pitchers duel between young lefties. Doubront struck out the side after allowing a leadoff single to Nick Markakis. He has nine strikeouts.

Top 6th: Orioles 2, Red Sox 1: When we previewed the Orioles series from Philadelphia, the one pitcher Ortiz dreaded facing was Matusz. Now we can see why. Matusz has struck him out twice and got him to fly out to right. Coming in Ortiz was 1 for 10 against him. Mike Aviles also struck out as Matusz retired the side in order for the fourth time.

Bottom 5th: Orioles 2, Red Sox 1: Doubront is humming. He has retired seven straight.

Top 5th: Orioles 2, Red Sox 1: Matusz retired the side featuring a pair of strikeouts by Saltalamacchia and Byrd.

Bottom 4th: Orioles 2, Red Sox 1: Nice quick inning for Doubront, who got Betemit to pop foul to first, Davis to tap back to the mound, and he struck out Tolleson swinging on a nasty slider.

Top 4th: Orioles 2, Red Sox 1: They weren't saying "Boooo!" they were saying "Yoooouk!" Kevin Youkilis returned from the DL and hit a solo homer to center field. Youkilis is playing first base tonight to keep Will Middlebrooks' hot bat in the lineup with Adrian Gonzalez moving to right field.

Bottom 3rd: Orioles 2, Red Sox 0: Doubront gets two quick outs and then allowed a single to Adam Jones, but he struck out the rough and tough Wieters.

Top 3rd: Orioles 2, Red Sox 0: The Sox go down in order against Matusz, who has won three of his last four starts. In his first eight starts, Matusz has held lefties to a .143 average.

Bottom 2nd: Orioles 2, Red Sox 0: Steve Tolleson, of all people, homered with Wilson Betemit aboard (walk) to give the Orioles the early lead. Doubront has little bumps in the road that he can't seem to get over.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 0, Orioles 0: The Sox got two on base - Adrian Gonzalez with a single to left and Jarrod Saltalamacchia with a two-out walk. But Matusz struck out Daniel Nava to end the threat.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 0, Orioles 0: One thing Felix Doubront needs to learn is to avoid tedious innings. After a strikeout to Robert Andino to lead off the first, J.J. Hardy walked and Nick Markakis singled to center. But Doubront bounced back by striking out Adam Jones and retiring the tough Matt Wieters on a flyball.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Orioles 0: Mike Aviles led off against lefty Brian Matusz with a fly ball to right. Dustin Pedroia grounded out weakly to third base. David Ortiz struck out swinging.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

BALTIMORE — Cody Ross was placed on the 15-day disabled list. GM Ben Cherington, while not as optimistic as Bobby Valentine was earlier today, did say his fractured left foot may be less serious than initially feared.

Ross will remain in a walking boot for now.

Scott Podsednik was officially added to the roster. Kevin Youkilis was activated. Ryan Sweeney went on the seven-day concussion DL and Daisuke Matsuzaka went on the 60-day DL retroactive to the beginning of the season.

Also, Cherington said that Aaron Cook's left knee is not healing as quickly as hoped and his return is not close.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

BALTIMORE — In a surprising turn of events, Red Sox outfielder Cody Ross may not need to go on the disabled list.

Ross received a second opinion on the fracture in his left foot today and there's a chance it may be an old fracture. Beyond that, his foot felt good today and now the Red Sox are trying to determine what happens next.

According to Bobby Valentine, Ross could need two weeks on the DL, not two months. At worst, it's not nearly as bad was initially feared.

Kevin Youkilis has been activated and Ryan Sweeney was placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list retroactive to Sunday.

Youkilis seemed almost angry when he spoke to reporters before batting practice, giving short answers to basic questions. He said he felt healthy and ready to play every day and felt fine about playing first base.

Scott Podsednik is here and may be activated regardless of what happens with Ross. The Sox could choose to send Che-Hsuan Lin down.

Here are the matchups:

RED SOX (21-21)
Aviles SS
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Gonzalez RF
Youkilis 1B
Middlebrooks 3B
Saltalamacchia C
Nava LF
Byrd CF
Pitching: LHP Felix Doubront (4-1, 4.09)

ORIOLES (27-16)
Andino 2B
Hardy SS
Markakis RF
Jones CF
Wieters C
Betemit 1B
Davis DH
Tolleson 3B
Avery LF
Pitching: LHP Brian Matusz (3-4, 5.36)

Game time: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Red Sox vs. Matusz: Ortiz 1-10, Shoppach 2-7, Sweeney 1-7, Pedroia 2-7, Gonzalez 3-3, Aviles 0-1, Byrd 1-2, Nava 0-1, Punto 2-2, Ross 0-3, Salty 0-3.

Orioles vs. Bard: Davis 1-3, Jones 1-2, Wieters 0-1, Andino 0-1, Markakis 1-1.

Stat of the Day: The Red Sox have yet to get over .500. This is the longest into a season they have not been over .500 since 1996, when it took until Aug. 25. That team finished 85-77.

Notes: The Red Sox have won nine of 11 (outscoring the opposition 64-31) and 17 of the last 28. ... The Sox are 5.5 games behind the Orioles and tied with the Yankees for fourth place. ... Doubront is 0-0 with a 6.00 ERA on three career relief appearances against the Orioles, a total of three innings. ... Matusz is 2-1, 4.02 in six career starts against the Red Sox. ... Pedroia has reached base safely in 21 of 22 games and 37 of the 42 games this season. He also has a 20 game hit streak against the Orioles. ... Aviles is 12 of 30 with seven extra-base hits and seven RBIs in the last seven games.

Song of the Day: "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" by McFadden & Whitehead.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

BALTIMORE — Bobby Valentine joked after the game last night that he didn't know what his lineup would be today, but he knew it would be different.

Such is life with the ever-changing Red Sox. Because more moves are coming this afternoon.

Kevin Youkilis and Scott Podsednik have arrived in Baltimore from Norfolk, Va., where they were playing for Triple-A Pawtucket.

Youkilis, who has been on the disabled list with a strained lower back, needs only to pass a physical exam to be activated. If Ryan Sweeney goes on the seven-day concussion disabled list, Podsednik could potentially replace him on the roster.

Podsednik, 36, hasn't been in the majors since 2010 when he was with the Dodgers. He has hit .323/.371/.484 in nine games for Pawtucket since being acquired from the Phillies organization.

No word yet on what the corresponding move would be to add Youkilis to the roster. GM Ben Cherington is with the team and sorting through the various options.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

Major League Baseball has been trying to draw more attention to its annual amateur draft in recent years. The first round is now televised on MLB Network and each team sends a representative.

The great Dwight Evans will be on hand for the Red Sox this year. The draft starts on June 4 in scenic Secaucus, N.J.

The Sox are picking 24th, 31st and 37th in the first round.Then 87th, 118th, and 151st. The 31st and 37th picks are compensation for Jonathan Papelbon.

Perhaps the exposure will help Evans get included on the next veterans committee ballot for the Hall of Fame. As Patrick Languzzi details on his web site, Evans clearly belongs.

Have a question? Submit your question here to be considered for the next edition of Ask Nick.

By Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff

Our question of the week comes from Jonathan Lobel, who lives in Frydlant in the Czech Republic. Jonathan asks, "Adrian Gonzalez says he will play wherever the team needs him. Why not put him in the outfield, (Kevin) Youkilis at first base and keep Will Middlebrooks at third base? Seems like these guys are paid enough (and had been playing poorly enough) to be flexible."
This is an interesting topic. Maximizing your offense with this approach would be advantageous for the team. The issue may be whether you really want to take your Gold Glove first baseman, Gonzalez, and keep him in right field indefinitely. I think the answer to that is no. But to do it on occasion? Sure.

I think Gonzalez has no problem with it, and as long as he's enthusiastic about it, it would work. The easiest thing to do here is to send Middlebrooks down to Pawtucket, but I don't think that's fair to the kid, who looks like he's going to be a good player. This team is already down Carl Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury, and to have more firepower in the lineup would be a good thing, even if some people are playing out of position at times.

In a week, the mood of Sox Nation has certainly changed as the team comes together really for the first time in the Bobby Valentine era. While a players-only meeting seemed to help things, it's really the work of the pitching staff that has been the best cure for Red Sox ills.

This is a big three-game series in Baltimore. As I wrote in a recent On Baseball column, the Red Sox could begin to change the way people the AL East if they can sweep or take the series from the Orioles.

I think we need to cut Bobby V. some slack! He's coming back into MLB after a long hiatus. He only had a short time to get to know his new team. Watching the team the last couple of weeks, I see more smiles in the dugout, I see more enthusiasm, and I think they are starting to pull it together. It can only get better when Jacoby, CC, and Bailey come back. Am I wrong?
Dan, Ocala, Fla.
Good points, Dan. I think the fair-minded fans understand that about Valentine, plus he doesn't have complete say in matters. There are a lot of front-office "suggestions" that tend to get in the way of Valentine being able to be Valentine. But the team is getting used to him. Tough to go from the ultimate players manager in Terry Francona to a guy not known for that. But I think the less warm and fuzzy approach to players will pay off in the long run.

What do the Sox do with Alfredo Aceves when Bailey is ready to pitch? What about Bard?
Bob, Rochester, NY
My guess is if Aceves is doing a great job as a closer by then, he keeps the job and Bailey is eased into things. It'll be a while before Bailey is ready anyway. I doubt they would thrust him into the closer role. As for Bard, who knows? It all depends on what the team needs are when Daisuke Matsuzaka and Aaron Cook are ready to come back. That decision is at least two weeks away, if not more. A lot could change or happen in that time span.

It seems to me that the best outfielder the Sox have in the minors, and the one with the most MLB potential (excluding those not close to MLB readiness such as Bryce Brentz, Brandon Jacobs, Jackie Bradley, etc) is by far Juan Carlos Linares. Why has GM Ben Cherington repeatedly overlooked Linares, who looks like he could help the Sox now?
Paul, Boston
Not sure why Linares gets skipped over. I think he's coming off an injury-filled season after his Achilles tear, and they started him in Portland (AA) to build it back up. Sometimes guys just get typecast even by the people in charge and can't convince them otherwise. It happens a lot in baseball.

Why are we keeping Nick Punto on the team? He can't hit and we have a shortstop in Pawtucket in Jose Iglesias who is hitting well and he can play SS and then we can move Mike Aviles to utility and we would at least have someone off the bench who can play the field and hit.
Bruce, Concord, NC
I'm a huge Jose Iglesias supporter, but Mike Aviles has really surprised me both with his offense and his defense. Are there balls Iglesias could have gotten to that Aviles hasn't? Absolutely. But right now there's no reason to make that move. We'll see if Aviles keeps it up or he suffers any wear and tear because he's playing so much. As for Punto, yes he seems overmatched at the plate. It's awfully tough for bench players to have any consistency hitting because of their lack of playing time. But I think he's a good defensive player and he's a great guy on a team.

For more Q&A, click the Full Entry button.

FULL ENTRY

The Red Sox are back at .500 after beating the Orioles on Monday night.

Nick Cafardo writes that the Red So have a lot of ground to cover in the outfield now that Cody Ross is injured.

The notebook has the details on what happened to Ross and the status of other injured players.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

BALTIMORE — The Red Sox were a few days away from starting the season when they learned their closer, Andrew Bailey, had torn a ligament in his thumb.

They replaced him with Alfredo Aceves, who had been a starter throughout spring training. He blew two saves in his first four chances.

The pitcher they acquired to be the primary set-up man, Marc Melancon, was hit so hard in four appearances to start the season that there was little choice but to send him to the minors. He faced 18 batters and 13 reached base.

Bobby Valentine surveyed the wreckage that was his bullpen and figured it out. He kept his faith in Aceves as the closer, made Vicente Padilla the set-up man, and picked the right spots for guys like Scott Atchison and Matt Albers.

Rich Hill got off the disabled list and became a lefty assassin. Bobby V even found a way to put Andrew Miller in a position to succeed in the majors, something Jim Leyland and Terry Francona never figured out.

Since April 23, the bullpen has a 1.59 ERA. Aceves has converted eight save chances in a row and Padilla has stranded all 15 runners he has inherited. You know the roles as well the pitchers do. Aceves closes. Padilla gets the eighth inning. Hill comes in for lefties. Miller protects leads in the seventh. Atchison is always ready for two innings.

The bullpen is a big reason the Sox have won nine of 11 and are finally back to .500 at 21-21. Tonight's 8-6 victory against the Orioles featured stellar work by Miller, Padilla and Aceves as the Sox salvaged a game after Clay "Should Be In Triple A" Buchholz put them in a hole.

Padilla saved the game tonight, leaving two runners stranded in the eighth inning. He pitched for the third straight day and did his job.

The Red Sox are Padilla’s fifth team in a 14-year career that has known success and failure in a variety of roles. Listed at 34, he looks 10 years older and has facial expressions best suited for a wanted poster or a Quentin Tarantino movie.

“I'm kind of scared of him a little bit,” Dustin Pedroia said.

Maybe opposing hitters are, too, given Padilla’s success in recent weeks.

“I concentrate on making pitches and I try and be more aggressive with the fastball with runners won,” said Padilla, who speaks English to teammates but uses an interpreter with the media. “The game is on the line right there.”

Said Valentine: “He takes it so personally when it’s somebody else’s run out there. It’s incredible. He said he’s been on the other end when his runs were given up. He really does take it as a personal situation, which is wonderful.”

A reliable bullpen can pull teams together as much as an erratic one can tear them apart. When the relievers do their job, games that look lost can be won.

"They're doing a great job," Pedroia said.

Valentine was a popular target early in the season. But he cobbled together a lineup that included an outfield of Daniel Nava, Marlon Byrd, and Che-Hsuan Lin tonight and beat a first-place team.

The Red Sox had 14 hits. Every starter had at least one hit including Lin, his first in the majors. David Ortiz sparked the rally in the sixth inning with a monstrous home run.

The Sox are 17-11 in their last 28 games without Bailey, Melancon, Jacoby Ellsbury, Carl Crawford, Kevin Youkilis for the last 17 games, and now Cody Ross.

It's impressive. There's really no other way to say it.

Meanwhile:

• Ryan Sweeney was not available tonight after failing his concussion test. Sounds like he's headed for the new seven-day concussion DL.

• Buchholz has allowed the most earned runs in the AL.

• No reliever in the AL has stranded more runners without allowing one to score than Padilla.

• Miller has retired 23 of the 28 batters he has faced.

• Daniel Nava has 10 RBIs in 12 games. Will Middlebrooks has 16 RBIs in 18 games.

Game over: Red Sox 8, Orioles 6: Alfredo Aceves earned his 10th save with a 1-2-3 inning. The real story was Vicente Padilla who got two critical outs with runners in scoring position in the 8th. There were only 16,392 on hand at Camden Yards. The game was played in 3:16 as the Red Sox moved to .500 at 21-21.

Top 9th: Red Sox 8, Orioles 6: Troy Patton strikes out Adrian Gonzalez and Jarrod Saltalamacchia in a 1-2-3 innings.

Bottom 8th: Red Sox 8, Orioles 6: Rich Hill eight-appearance hitless streak came to an end when Nick Markakis singled to left field. Adam Jones followed witha single right field and Hill found himself in the biggest jam he's been in in some time. Valentine allowed Hill to stay on to pitch to the switch-hitting Matt Wieters righthanded. Wieters battled Hill on 1-2 and finally won the battle with a single to left field, scoring the sixth Orioles run. Chris Davis tapped back to Hill, who made the play at first base while the runners advanced.

With one out, Valentine took Hill out and brought in Vicente Padilla to face the switch-hitting Wilson Betemit. Betemit flied to shallow left and the runner had to hold. Padilla then reared back and struck out Nick Johnson, with a high fastball. Johnson is now 0-for-8 with three strikeouts vs. Padilla who leads the majors with 15 inherited runners and none have scored.

Top 8th: Red Sox 8, Orioles 5: Che-Hsuan (Freddy) Lin roped his first major league hit with two outs, a sharp single to left. The Sox dugout applauded as the ball was retrieved as a keepsake for the Taiwan native. It was a proud moment for the kid. Mike Aviles struck out, but lefty Troy Patton uncorked a wild pitch which advanced Lin and Aviles reached safely on the strikeout. Pedroia singled to left on a hard hit bal, but Lin, who runs very well, came around to score a much-needed insurance run.

Bottom 7th: Red Sox 7, Orioles 5: Miller continues to be terrific, retiring the Orioles in order.

Top 7th: Red Sox 7, Orioles 5: By the way, here's Buchholz's very unimpressive line: 5.1 innings, 6 hits, 5 runs, 4 walks, 2 strikeouts. Now back to the action. Che-Hsuan Lin tried to bunt his way on, but no dice. He eventually struck out. Mike Aviles dumped a single into left field and Pedroia doubled to right. The O's walked Big Papi intentionally and with the bases full, Adrian Gonzalez knocked in the go-ahead run with a sac fly to left field off reliever Kevin Gregg. Middlebrooks stroked his third hit with a lined single up the middle, scoring Pedroia with the second run of the inning. Salty K'd to end it.

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 5, Orioles 5: Hi gang, Nick Cafardo taking over while Pete does his newspaper work. The ugly Buchholz outing continued. Matt Wieters walked with one out. Chris Davis (please don't let him pitch), who homered earlier, singled to right. OK, Bobby V, I think we've seen enough of Bucky, eh? Yup, here he comes. Bobby agreed with me. Andrew Miller is on.

The Big Man, and happy birthday to him by the way, got Betemit to tap out to Gonzalez at first. The runners advanced to second and third with two outs.Nick Johnson then flew out to center to end the threat. Another good job by Miller, who has now retired 20 of the 24 batters he's faced.

Middle of the 6th: Red Sox 5, Orioles 5: No quit in these Red Sox. Ortiz hit a rocket that landed on Eutaw Street, way out the park. No. 10 for Papi.

Gonzo then doubled before Middlebrooks reached on an infield hit. Salty grounded out to first, moving the runners up. Nava drove in a run with a sac fly before Middlebrooks scored on a balk.

Hey, the Red Sox benefited from a balk for a change.

Brand new ballgame. Can Buchholz hang in there?

Top of the 6th: Orioles 5, Red Sox 2: Bucholz retired the Orioles in order.

Middle of the 5th: Orioles 5, Red Sox 2: 1-2-3 inning for Hunter, who pitches better with a lead than Buchholz did. Amazing how a lack of walks helps a pitcher.

Top of the 5th: Orioles 5, Red Sox 2: Davis homered for the O's as Buchholz continued to look like a ghost of the pitcher the Red Sox once thought was on the verge of stardom

Middle of the 4th: Orioles 4, Red Sox 2: The Sox had three singles and did not score run. Middlebrooks, who singled with one out, was thrown out stealing on what had to be a missed hit-and-run. Salty and Nava then singled before Byrd grounded back to the mound.

Top of the 4th: Orioles 4, Red Sox 2: Terrible inning for Buchholz, who threw 31 pitches.

Betemit singled before Johnson walked and Andino singled with a bunt to load the bases. Avery walked on a nine-pitch at-bat to force in a run. Buchholz thought he had him struck out twice including on the final pitch, a high curveball that appeared to be strike.

Hardy then singled in a run, hitting a ball up the middle that Aviles wanted to flip to second but tried to go to first with and was too late. Markakis walked to force in another. Jones grounded into a double play as Avery scored. Then Wieters grounded out to finally end the inning.

With a 2-0 lead, it's inexcusable to walk three batters in an inning.

Middle of the 3rd: Red Sox 2, Orioles 0: Nava singled and took third on a ground-rule double to the gap in right by Byrd. Lin grounded to third in his first MLB at-bat, failing to advance the runners. But Aviles whistled an RBI single over the head of Hunter. Pedroia then flied to right, just deep enough to score Byrd, who beat a good throw from Markakis.

Ortiz struck out to end the inning but the Sox have given Buchholz a lead to work with.

Top of the 3rd: Red Sox 0, Orioles 0: Three groundouts for Buchholz. He has thrown 20 pitches and Hunter 18. Both pitchers are perfect so far.

Middle of the 2nd: Red Sox 0 Orioles 0: Nine up and nine down so far between the two teams. Gonzalez actually tried to bunt against the shift but it was too close to the pitcher and he was easily thrown out. Ortiz needs to give him tips.

Top of the 2nd: Red Sox 0, Orioles 0: Easy 1-2-3 inning for Buchholz.

Middle of the 1st: Red Sox 0, Orioles 0: The Red Sox went in order against Hunter. Kind of a sparse crowd here.

Pre-game: Good evening from Camden Yards. There are some dark clouds overhead but the game will start on time. Clay Buchholz will be facing Tommy Hunter of the Orioles.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

BALTIMORE — Just for kicks, can the Red Sox get away with this lineup?

Aviles SS
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Gonzalez RF
Youkilis 1B
Middlebrooks 3B
Salty C
Nava LF
Byrd CF

Valentine said it's just theory at this point, but it has been discussed. That's asking a lot from Gonzalez and inviting trouble. But perhaps it can work 4-5 days a week.

How about using Aviles in the outfield and playing Jose Iglesias at shortstop? With six — yes, six — outfielders on the disabled list, creativity is going to be needed.

As for trades, do you really want to trade any legitimate prospects to bolster a last-place team?

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

BALTIMORE — Red Sox outfielder Cody Ross will be placed on the disabled list on Tuesday with a fractured navicular bone in his left foot.

Ross was in Boston today for an MRI on his foot, which was injured on Friday when he fouled a ball off it in Philadelphia. Although an initial x-ray showed no breaks, a further examination showed the fracture.

Bobby Valentine did not offer a timetable on when Ross might be able to return other than it would be "less than a couple of months."

Dustin Pedroia fractured his navicular bone in June of 2010 and it cost him the remainder of the season, with the exception of two games when he attempted a comeback.

Indications are that Ross has a less extensive fracture than Pedroia.

Ryan Sweeney also is out of the lineup as the Red Sox wait for the results of a concussion test administered by Major League Baseball. There is a chance he could be available for the game.

Kevin Youkilis is expected to replace Ross on the roster on Tuesday.

Ross will join fellow outfielders Carl Crawford (March 26, left wrist); Ryan Kalish (April 4, left shoulder); Jacoby Ellsbury (April 14, right shoulder); Jason Repko (April 21, left shoulder) and Darnell McDonald (May 12, right oblique) on the disabled list.

UPDATE, 7:00 p.m.: “The MRI on Cody revealed a small fracture. It didn’t show up on the X-rays but was there on MRI," GM Ben Cherington said.

"It’s a small, non-displaced fracture so it should heal without surgical intervention. He’ll get a second opinion and hopefully came back as soon as possible."

The break is in a slightly different spit than Pedroia had his and is smaller. "Our medical staff is confident surgery won’t be necessary," said Cherington, who hopes Ross will be out 6-8 weeks.

"We just have to let him heal and see how he does. Check in two weeks and see where he is then."

By Peter Abraham and Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff

BALTIMORE — Red Sox outfielder Cody Ross, who fouled a ball off his left foot on Friday, could need a stint on the disabled list because of a fracture.

Initial x-rays were negative but a further examination revealed the possibility of a fracture according to baseball sources.

Ross is hitting .271 with eight home run and 28 RBI.

More on this story as it become available.

Good afternoon. Here are the lineups.

RED SOX (20-21)
Aviles SS
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Gonzalez 1B
Middlebrooks 3B
Saltalamacchia C
Nava LF
Byrd CF
Lin RF
Pitching: RHP Clay Buchholz (4-2, 7.77)

ORIOLES (27-15)
Avery LF
Hardy SS
Markakis RF
Jones CF
Wieters C
Davis 1B
Betemit 3B
Johnson DH
Andino 2B
Pitching: RHP Tommy Hunter (2-2, 4.78)

Game time: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WRKO

Red Sox vs Hunter: Ortiz 6-18, 2 HR; Pedroia 5-12, Sweeney 4-11, Gonzalez 3-9, Aviles 2-9, Ross 1-4, Salty 0-3, Nava 1-2, Byrd 1-2, Middlebrooks 1-2, Punto 0-2.

Orioles vs. Buchholz: Markakis 3-25, Jones 4-12, Wieters 6-15, Andino 1-9, Davis 0-4, Flaherty 1-3, Hardy 3-3, 2 HR; Johnson 1-2.

Stat of the Day: The Red Sox are 0-3 against the Orioles this season, getting swept at Fenway Park May 4-6. The Sox have won two of the last 10 games between the team.

Notes: The Red Sox have won eight of their last 10 games, outscoring the opposition 55-25. ... The Orioles have the best record in the American League despite having outscored the opposition by 14 runs. The Red Sox are +17 in run differential. The Orioles are 8-3 in games decided by one run and 6-2 in extra innings, which accounts for some of their good fortune. ... Buck Showalter is 130-131 as manager of the Orioles. ... Buchholz is 5-3, 3.79 in 11 career appearances against the Orioles, 3-2, 4.94 in six games at Camden Yards. ... After a horrid start, Buchholz has been better of late, giving up five earned runs over his last 11.1 innings. ... Hunter is 2-1, 7.02 in seven career starts against the Red Sox. He faced them on May 6 and allowed five runs on eight hits over 4.1 innings. ... Aviles has hit in six straight at 10 of 25 with four doubles, three homers and six RBIs. ... Scott Atchison has gone 12.1 innings without allowing a run. ... Rich Hill has thrown 6.0 hitless innings in his last eight appearances. ... Jones has hit in 12 straight for the Orioles. He has 14 homers and 29 RBIs on the season. ... The Sox have hit 11 home runs in their last four games.

Song of the Day: "Hungry Heart" by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band