Gonzalez gives up just two runs, but O's fall to Red Sox

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Ryan Lavarnway belted a solo homer off former teammate Alfredo Aceves as the Red Sox beat the Orioles, 6-5, on Tuesday afternoon at Ed Smith Stadium.

Brock Holt opened up the scoring with a solo homer in the third, and then A.J. Pierzynski added an RBI single to give the Red Sox a 2-0 lead.

Red Sox starter Allen Webster was tagged with two runs and struggled with command, walking three and allowing a pair of hits over 3 1/3 innings. An Orioles offense that had been red-hot coming into the game mustered up just two hits over the first six innings, singles from J.J. Hardy and Nick Markakis.

Baltimore starter Miguel Gonzalez pitched three innings, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk. After leaving Friday's start after taking a liner in his left shin, Gonzalez said he felt fine Tuesday.

"I thought it was going to be worse," Gonzalez said after Tuesday's outing. "Having to get hit last time and being able to be under control this time was fun to be out there again.

"I felt good throughout all three innings. All I wanted was to be out there and try to throw 45 to 50 pitches, and that's what I did."

In addition to Holt, Will Middlebrooks went deep, sending Tommy Hunter's first pitch over the fence to start the seventh inning.

Baltimore's Brian Matusz followed Gonzalez with two scoreless innings.

Up next: Ubaldo Jimenez will make his second Grapefruit League start when the Orioles host the Phillies at 1:05 p.m. ET on Wednesday.