Orioles edge slumping Red Sox

BALTIMORE (Reuters) - The slumping Boston Red Sox were beaten 5-4 by the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday and slipped to second place in the American League East division following a fourth defeat in five games.

The World Series champions had lost three of four games against the Minnesota Twins before their trip to Baltimore, the poor run allowing the Tampa Bay Rays to replace them at the top of the standings with a 2-1 win over the New York Yankees.

The Orioles rallied from an early deficit but held on for victory after rookie reliever Jim Johnson escaped a bases-loaded jam with no outs in the seventh inning.

The Red Sox (24-18), who were without manager Terry Francona following the death of his mother-in-law, got off to a fast start and led 3-0 after the first innings.

The visitors took advantage of two errors and added an RBI single from Manny Ramirez off Jeremy Guthrie.

Baltimore rallied to overhaul the Red Sox when Luke Scott scored in the second inning before adding a three-run homer in the third after Kevin Miller had singled in Brian Roberts.

The Red Sox suffered a double blow when right fielder J.D Drew sprained his left wrist in the third and center fielder Coco Crisp had to leave the game in the sixth with an upset stomach.

In the eighth, the Red Sox gained a run but left two runners on base with one out.

Pitcher George Sherrill kept it tight for Baltimore in the ninth and a miserable night for Boston was completed when David Oritz was ejected by the umpire in the final inning for arguing strikes.

Orioles manager Dave Trembley told reporters the victory was proof of his team's character and ability.

"The win means a lot to me and I am a sure it means a lot to the team and our fans because there is still that question out there... is this team going to snap or crack?" he said.

"They're not. These guys will stick together and that is what they did tonight."

After the Yankees drew level 1-1 in the ninth in Tampa, Gabe Gross hit a walk-off single in the 11th to plate pinch-runner Jonny Gomes.

The victory takes Tampa Bay's (23-16) winning streak to five games.

(Writing by Simon Evans in Miami; Editing by John O'Brien)