Red Sox win 8th straight, knock O’s from WC spot

BALTIMORE — The Red Sox’s playoff push is looking more and more like a steamroll.

Backed by seven strong innings by ace David Price, Boston picked up its second consecutive four-game sweep, beating Baltimore, 5-3, on Thursday night to complete an absolutely dominant series.

The Sox, who have won 13 of their last 16 games, have a commanding 5 1/2-game lead over second-place Toronto and a magic number of five to clinch the American League East. Baltimore, losers in six of eight games at home, remained in third place and is tied with Detroit for the second AL Wild Card spot, pending the Tigers’ game Thursday night.

Boston chased Baltimore’s Opening Day starter, Chris Tillman, from the game after five outs — the ace’s shortest start of the year — jumping out to an early lead three-run lead. Price, who allowed all three of his runs on rookie Trey Mancini’s homer, held firm from there, as Boston added a run in the fifth and Hanley Ramirez went deep in the seventh inning.

Ramirez’s insurance run, which snapped O’s reliever Donnie Hart’s 18-inning scoreless streak, helped the Sox secure their first back-to-back four-game sweeps since July 1-7, 1968, vs. Oakland and Minnesota.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDHanley heats back up: Fresh off winning the AL Player of the Week Award, Ramirez had been quiet in this series until the finale. The first baseman gave …

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