Eflin improves to 4-0 as Orioles beat Red Sox 5-1

Zach Eflin pitched six impressive innings to improve to 4-0 since joining the Baltimore Orioles, who beat the Boston Red Sox 5-1 on Thursday.

Gunnar Henderson and Cedric Mullins each homered to back Eflin (9-7), who has won all four of his starts since the Orioles acquired him from Tampa Bay before the trade deadline.

Eflin allowed one run and five hits in a performance that included a career-high eight strikeouts. He did not issue a single walk.

Baltimore caught up with the New York Yankees for first place in the American League East. The Yankees rested for the day.

Boston is eight games behind.

Nick Pivetta (5-8) allowed three runs and three hits in five innings. He struck out six and walked one, but two of the hits he allowed were home runs.

Venezuelan Wilyer Abreu hit a home run in the fourth inning for Boston’s only run.

For the Red Sox, Mexican Jarren Duran went 0-for-4. Venezuelan Abreu went 2-for-3 with one run scored and one RBI. Dominican Rafael Devers went 0-for-4.

For the Orioles, Venezuelan Anthony Santander was 1-for-3 with two runs scored. Mexican Ramón Urías was 0-for-3.