BALTIMORE -- Dustin Pedroia, Adrian Gonzalez and Cody Ross got consecutive RBI singles in a three-run sixth inning that gave Boston the lead for good, and starter Clay Buchholz rebounded from a slow beginning to give the Red Sox eight strong innings in a 6-3 victory over the Orioles Thursday night.

The Orioles (64-54) had taken a 3-1 lead before Boston (58-61) tied it with two runs in the fifth, and the Red Sox took command with the big sixth inning.

Pedroia gave Boston the lead with a tie-breaking infield single off Luis Ayala (4-4). Gonzalez followed with a single to right to make it 5-3, and Ross then lined another RBI single for the three-run lead.

That was plenty for Buchholz (11-3), who needed to recover after allowing three runs on six hits in the first two innings. The Red Sox turned three double plays in the first four innings to help the right-hander.

Buchholz gave up just two hits after the first two innings and eventually lasted eight innings, giving up three runs on eight hits. He struck out seven and walked three.

Alfredo Aceves came on in the ninth to close it for his 24th save this season.

The Orioles took an early 2-0 lead when Adam Jones lined a two-run double to right in the bottom of the first. That scored Nick Markakis and J.J. Hardy, both of whom had singled and moved up on a Nate McLouth groundout.

Boston scored on a two-out rally in the second. Scott Podsednik lined a 3-2 pitch to center to drive in a run and cut the lead to 2-1.

The Orioles answered in the bottom of the inning when Mark Reynolds homered on the first pitch. They could've had more, but the Red Sox turned a Markakis bunt into a double play, and right fielder Ross threw out Omar Quintanilla at home after a Hardy single.

Boston left two on in the fourth before tying it with two runs in the fifth. Carl Crawford singled and went to third on a Pedroia double.

Crawford then scored on a wild pitch, and Gonzalez drove in Pedroia on a sacrifice fly to make it 3-3 and end starter Chris Tillman's night.

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NOTES: The Orioles recalled infielder Joe Mahoney from Triple-A Norfolk and placed infielder Wilson Betemit on the 15-day disabled list with right wrist problems. The move with Betemit is retroactive to Aug. 12. Mahoney came up to the Orioles early this season and went 0-for-3 in his only game. He plays first base. Betemit had a .264 average with 12 homers and 37 RBIs in 97 games...Entering Thursday, the Orioles had won 11 straight one-run games in a stretch that goes back to June 22. The club record is 12, and the last time the Orioles won 11 one-run contests in a row was in 1979...Boston's Jacoby Ellsbury made his first start of the season at designated hitter. He's usually the center fielder and has played in only 37 games so far - missing three months with a shoulder subluxation...Gonzalez, through Wednesday's game, led the majors with 35 RBIs since the All-Star Game. His .374 average in that time also ranks him second in the American League.