Jon Lester

BOSTON -- For once against the Boston Red Sox, everything seemed to be going right for the Orioles yesterday. They got a solid start from Kris Benson, they battered Red Sox starter Jason Johnson for seven runs and they saved at least one with superb plays in the field. But the relentless Boston offense, led by bruising young slugger Wily Mo Pena, tied the game in the sixth. Red Sox fans anticipated a movie-type ending as the ever-clutch David Ortiz stepped to the plate with a chance to win it in the 10th inning.

The Orioles began their current six-game road trip with many believing it would tell us a lot about what we need to know about the 2012 Birds. Baltimore's early-season success could be discounted by a favorable schedule early on, but road series in New York and Boston would be better indicators of the Orioles' staying power. And then the Orioles took two of three in the Bronx, shutting the Yankees bats down to three combined runs. Now they go to Fenway, where they took three of four in their last trip, a precursor to their final-weekend demolishing of the Red Sox's postseason hopes at Camden Yards.

In a 10-plus-minute interview before last night's game, Orioles manager Dave Trembley passionately defended his reeling team, telling reporters, "We've gotten our butts kicked and we're still doing things the best we can." Trembley lauded the effort of his team under difficult circumstances and vowed that things will get better. The Orioles then went out and offered plenty of effort, but they were much too short on execution to beat a first-place team. Red Sox@Orioles Tonight, 7:05, MASN, 105.7 FM Starters: Jon Lester (3-0, 5.26 ERA)

With a win against Jon Lester and the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night, the Orioles will finish with a winning record in September for a second consecutive season. They are 14-13 entering the season finale. A season ago, the Orioles went 34-23 after Buck Showalter became manager, including a 17-13 record after August 31. That strong finish had the fan base fired up this spring, and many vocal fans predicted big things -- you know, a winning record -- after the Orioles acquired Vladimir Guerrero, Derrek Lee and Mark Reynolds.

ALL GAMES ON 105.7 FM TOMORROW Red Sox, 7:05 p.m., MASN Starters: Red Sox's Josh Beckett (4-2, 3.70) vs. Orioles' Jeremy Guthrie (1-3, 4.32) WEDNESDAY Red Sox, 3:05 p.m., MASN Starters: Red Sox's Jon Lester (2-2, 4.06) vs. Orioles' Daniel Cabrera (3-1, 3.54) FRIDAY Nationals, 7:05 p.m., MASN Starters: Nationals' Shawn Hill (0-0, 3.56) vs. Orioles' Steve Trachsel (2-4, 6.75) SATURDAY Nationals, 7:05 p.m., MASN Starters: Nationals' Odalis Perez (0-3, 3.43) vs. Orioles' Garrett Olson (2-0, 2.95)

Red Sox and Braves Phil Rogers Chicago Tribune Forget the angst of Red Sox Nation. The Yankees are taking care of the Rays, and the Rangers will do the same with the Angels. Terry Francona's guys will march into October. It's the National League wild-card chase that gives us the best shot at a Game 163. The Cardinals are carrying a huge head of steam into season-ending series against two of baseball's weakest teams, the Cubs and Astros, and the already unsettled Braves end the season against the Phillies.

Predicted finish, records Red Sox Yankees Blue Jays Rays Orioles 94-68 92-71 81-81 78-84 70-92 Pennants, wild cards since 1995: 10, 12. Average payroll: $111.8 million (First of six divisions). Managers with World Series rings: Terry Francona ('04, '07), Joe Girardi ('09). Players with MVP awards: Dustin Pedroia ('08), Alex Rodriguez ('03, '05, '07)

Under new manager Buck Showalter, the Orioles had a winning August for the first time since 1997, recorded more victories than they had in two months under Dave Trembley and secured their first winning road trip in two seasons. But they still can't beat Boston Red Sox ace Jon Lester, even though for six innings they set themselves up to do just that. The Orioles scored five runs off Lester in the first two innings, the most they've tallied in any of his previous 15 starts against them.

Outfielder Nolan Reimold waited nearly 3 1/2 months to return to Camden Yards and try to salvage what remained of a nightmare season. Infielder Brandon Snyder's wait had been far longer. On the day rosters were eligible to expand, Reimold and Snyder were promoted to the big leagues Wednesday along with utility infielder Robert Andino. Reimold, who established himself as the Orioles' everyday left fielder during a strong rookie season last year, was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on May 12 after hitting just .205 with two homers and 10 RBIs in 29 big league games this season.

— Juan Samuel reserved his first critical words Saturday night for home plate umpire Mike Everitt as the Orioles' interim manager sprinted from the dugout in the eighth inning and engaged in a heated chest-to-chest conversation after his first career ejection. Then, as his team returned to the visiting clubhouse and joined him after the completion of a 9-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, Samuel let his players know how he felt, admonishing them for their sloppy play.

Before Jon Lester got into his groove and remembered that he was facing a team that he abuses like no other, the Orioles actually made the Boston Red Sox ace look vulnerable for all of five minutes last night. In the first inning, they had the bases loaded and one out, courtesy of two singles and a four-pitch walk, and one of their hottest hitters at the plate. Adam Jones played the part of rally killer by bouncing into an inning-ending double play. Starter Jeremy Guthrie then surrendered four runs in the bottom half of the inning on his way to a poor outing and the Orioles' offense was barely heard from again in a 9-3 loss in front of announced 38,106 at Fenway Park.

The Orioles were concerned enough about Jeremy Guthrie's ability to pitch through a myriad of aches and pains Saturday night that they scratched prospect Jake Arrieta from making his start for Triple-A Norfolk and were prepared to give the ball to long man Jason Berken. Guthrie not only pitched, but he held the Boston Red Sox to just two runs over 7 1/3 innings, and took some of the burden off a taxed bullpen. The Orioles rewarded him for his grit by making sure that he had to pitch a shutout in order to have any chance to win. Trying to break a losing streak that is carrying an already brutal season to new lows, the Orioles were shutout for the first eight innings before scoring a couple of late meaningless runs in an 8-2 loss before an announced 40,001 at Camden Yards.

Boston catcher Victor Martinez drove in six runs with a pair of long home runs Wednesday as the Red Sox scored a 14-6 exhibition victory over the Orioles before an announced 7,657 at Ed Smith Stadium. Martinez lit up right-hander Jason Berken with a two-run shot in the third inning and hit a grand slam off the tall backdrop in straightaway center field against reliever Jim Johnson. Infielder Kevin Frandsen also hit a grand slam, in the eighth off Dennis Sarfate. Berken lasted just 2 1/3 innings and gave up five runs on seven hits in what figures to be his last outing of spring training.