Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Manny Ramirez hit his 500th career home run, a two-out solo shot in the seventh inning, as Boston rallied past Baltimore, 6-3, in the second installment of a four-game set from Camden Yards.
With the game tied, 3-3, Jacoby Ellsbury tripled to start the Red Sox seventh. After Jamie Walker entered with one out, a David Ortiz liner to left turned into the go-ahead sacrifice fly as Ellsbury beat the throw to the plate.
"He's been a difference-maker," said Sox manager Terry Francona of Ellsbury. "I like to sit here and tell you that were managing him, telling him what to do. He's just a good player and his instincts on the bases are tremendous. He's making good decisions and he's changing the game when he gets on base."
Chad Bradford was called on to face Ramirez, who drilled the first pitch he saw into the right-center-field seats to give the enigmatic left-fielder the milestone and provide the Sox with a 5-3 cushion.
"It was great. I've been trying so hard the past three weeks just to get it done," Ramirez said of the long wait to reach the mark. "It finally came and I'm happy. I'm proud of myself and all the things that I accomplished. I worked hard for this. As soon as I hit it, I knew that it was gone."
Coco Crisp added an RBI on a double-play groundout in the eighth, and Hideki Okajima held Baltimore off the board in the home half. The Orioles put two men on with one out against closer Jonathan Papelbon in the ninth, but Nick Markakis lined into a game-ending double-play. Papelbon earned his 16th save in the victory.
Ortiz also homered as did Dustin Pedroia for the Red Sox, who have won two games in a row.
David Aardsma (2-1) notched the win in two scoreless relief innings for starter Jon Lester. Lester allowed seven hits and three runs over five full frames.
Brian Roberts went deep, while Jay Payton and Adam Jones also knocked in runs for the Orioles, who have dropped three straight.
Lance Cormier (0-2) took the loss, charged with two runs on three hits over 1 1/3 innings. Starter Garrett Olson allowed just three hits and a pair of runs over five innings in the no-decision.
The O's picked up a pair of runs in the second on a Payton infield single followed by Jones' base hit up the middle.
The Sox countered in the third with a pair of two-out back-to-back homers by Pedroia to left and Ortiz to center.
In the home fifth, Roberts unloaded a one-out solo homer to put the Orioles up 3-2. Lester worked himself into trouble as Markakis followed with a double, then a pair of two-out walks to Kevin Millar and Aubrey Huff loaded the bases. However, Ramon Hernandez went down swinging to keep it a one-run contest.
Against Cormier in the sixth, Jason Varitek laced an RBI single to knot the game, 3-3.
Game Notes
The record longball, his 10th homer of the season, traveled an estimated 410 feet..Of his 500 home runs, 236 came with Cleveland and 264 with Boston..Ramirez joined Jimmie Foxx and Ted Williams as the only players to reach the milestone with the Red Sox..Prior to the game, the Sox activated pitcher Clay Buchholz off the 15-day disabled list and optioned him to Triple- A Pawtucket..Ortiz left the game in the ninth inning with a left wrist injury after fouling off a pitch. Sean Casey pinch-hit for Ortiz and flew out..X-rays taken after the game proved negative, and Ortiz is listed as day- to-day..Aardsma, Okajima and Papelbon fanned four while allowing two hits over the final four innings.