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The grand slam gods giveth to the Red Sox on Sunday, only to taketh on Monday

A day after Xander Bogaerts broke a tie with a grand slam in Chicago, the shoe was on the other foot as the Baltimore Orioles overtook the Red Sox with the same gambit.
Credit: AP Photo/Nick Wass
Boston Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley, Jr. watches fans go for a ball hit by Baltimore Orioles' Jonathan Villar for a grand slam during the second inning of a baseball game on Monday, May 6, 2019, in Baltimore.

BALTIMORE — Jonathan Villar hit a grand slam, John Means handcuffed Boston's torrid offense over seven innings and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Red Sox 4-1 Monday night.

Villar connected in the second inning off Josh Smith (0-1), who was making his first start with Boston. The drive came after Villar was robbed of a first-inning double when a fan reached over the 7-foot wall and interfered with left fielder J.D. Martinez's effort to make a catch.

Villar's second career slam was more than enough support for Means (4-3), who allowed one run and three hits, striking out four and walking none. Making his fifth career start and 10th appearance, the lefty shut down a power-laden lineup that scored 30 runs in a three-game weekend sweep of the White Sox.

After Paul Fry got two outs in the eighth, Mychal Givens completed the three-hitter to earn his fourth save.

Christian Vázquez led off the fifth with a double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Eduardo Núnez for Boston's only run. After winning six of seven, the Red Sox (17-19) were trying to get to .500 for the first time since March 29, when they were 1-1.

Boston's streak of six consecutive games with a home run ended. The Red Sox clubbed a dozen long balls in that span and led the majors with 10 in May.

Earlier in the day, Boston placed lefty David Price on the 10-day injured list with tendinitis in his pitching elbow. Although the 2012 AL Cy Young Award winner has a history of elbow problems, he insisted, "This is nothing."

Smith gave up four runs and five hits in 3 1/3 innings. Signed as a minor league free agent last October, Smith pitched previously for Cincinnati and Oakland.

In the second inning, Smith gave up two singles and a walk to load the bases. After notching two straight strikeouts, the right-hander served up a curveball that Villar put well over the center-field wall.

STREAK OVER

Boston's Mookie Betts went 0 for 4, ending his streak of reaching base in 28 successive games against Baltimore. ... Red Sox DH Rafael Devers' career-high run of reaching base in 19 straight games ended with an 0-for-3 outing. ... Boston was 11-1 in its last 12 games at Camden Yards.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Red Sox: 2B Dustin Pedroia (knee) will continue his rehab assignment by playing in three straight games for Double-A Portland beginning Tuesday, manager Alex Cora said. 

RELATED: Pedroia makes an impact on fans but not on the game in Portland

Utility player Brock Holt (shoulder) could resume his rehabilitation assignment this weekend. He was placed on the IL with a scratched cornea but developed a sore shoulder while playing for Triple-A Pawtucket late last month.

Orioles: LHP Richard Bleier (shoulder tendinitis) will pitch for Class A Frederick on Tuesday. "We're happy with the progress he's making," manager Brandon Hyde said.

UP NEXT

Red Sox: Hector Velázquez (0-2, 3.72 ERA) will start Tuesday night in place of Price. It will be his 11th appearance, the fifth as a starter.

Orioles: David Hess (1-4, 5.34) seeks his first win since April 1. He's lost four of his last five starts.

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