Matusz, Orioles beat Red Sox 4-1

BALTIMORE — Brian Matusz allowed two hits and struck out nine batters in 6 1-3 innings, and Steve Tolleson and Wilson Betemit hit two-run homers as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Boston Red Sox 4-1 Tuesday.

It was the sixth win in eight games for the AL East-leading Orioles, who improved to 4-1 against Boston this season. Tolleson homered off Felix Doubront in the second inning and Betemit connected against Matt Albers in the eighth.

Kevin Youkilis homered for the Red Sox, who were seeking to climb over .500 for the first time this season. Instead, Boston reclaimed sole possession of last place.

Matusz (4-4) won his third straight start.

Indians 5, Tigers 3: At Cleveland, Chris Perez, greeted by a standing ovation from the time he left the bullpen, worked another impressive ninth inning for his 14th save as Cleveland ended a 10-game losing streak to Detroit.

Perez had been critical of recent booing during an appearance and called the Indians’ major league-worst attendance “an embarrassment” for a first-place club. He put two runners on in the ninth before striking out Miguel Cabrera and then getting Prince Fielder on a grounder to short.

Perez hasn’t blown a save since opening day.

In other Al games it was: Yankees 3, Royals 2; Rays 8, Blue Jays 5; Twins 9, White Sox 2; LA Angels 5, Oakland 0; Texas 3, Seattle 1.

Nationals beat Phillies

Jordan Zimmermann pitched six solid innings, and Ian Desmond and Rick Ankiel homered to lead the Washington Nationals to a 5-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies Tuesday.

Bryce Harper tripled, singled and drove in two runs for the Nationals, who won their third straight game and beat the Phillies for the sixth straight time in Philadelphia — something that never had been done in the franchise’s 43-year history. Washington has defeated Philadelphia in four of the five meetings this season and 13 of the last 16 overall.

Mets 3, Pirates 2: Lucas Duda smacked a go-ahead RBI-single in the top of the eighth in support of starter R.A. Dickey and the Mets edged the Pirates.

Dickey (6-1) struck out a career-high 11 in seven innings, giving up one run on four hits to move into a tie with a host of others for the most wins in the majors. Frank Francisco pitched the ninth for his 11th save.

Josh Harrison had two hits for the Pirates, who couldn’t take advantage of another strong start by James McDonald.

Elsewhere in the NL it was: Reds 4, Braves 3; Marlins 7, Rockies 6; Cardinals 4, Padres 0; Giants 6, Brewers 4; Astros 2, Cubs 1; and LA Dodgers 8, Arizona 7. — Agencies