BALTIMORE -- The Boston Red Sox are at .500 for the first time since the second game of the season, something nobody expected to say about the defending champions as the schedule approaches mid-May. Celebrating climbing back to .500 shouldn't represent a major achievement, but that's where Boston is right now after its limp start out of the gate, and after wrapping up a 12-inning, 2-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday.
Between a walk-off home run-robbing catch in the 12th inning from Jackie Bradley Jr., a strong performance from Chris Sale and homers from Mookie Betts and Andrew Benintendi, Boston pieced together a strong pitching performance complemented by timely offensive sparks, something absent in April, but showing up more regularly in May.