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Orioles-Red Sox Preview

The Baltimore Orioles named Dave Trembley their manager for the rest of this season Tuesday, removing the interim tag from his title. He's certainly earned at least that much.

Trembley and the Orioles seek their eighth win in nine games Wednesday night when they continue a three-game series against the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Brian Roberts homered on the first pitch of the game and Erik Bedard won his seventh straight decision as Baltimore took Tuesday's series opener 5-3.

Bedard outpitched Boston ace Josh Beckett, and three relievers limited the Red Sox to one run over the final three innings. Jamie Walker, serving as closer in the absence of injured Chris Ray, got the final two outs for his fourth save.

"The way they tried to attack Josh, from the first pitch of the game, it was obvious they were going to be aggressive," Boston manager Terry Francona said.

The Orioles (50-55) won for the seventh time in eight games, improving to 21-15 since Trembley took over for Sam Perlozzo on June 18.

Trembley has helped put Baltimore in position to potentially end a franchise-record run of nine straight losing seasons. Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said Tuesday that the former bullpen coach has earned the right to finish the season as the team's manager.

"It's a heck of an opportunity," Trembley said. "The players have really bought into what we're trying to do here. I have a lot of respect for the game and I have a lot of respect for the people that are giving us this opportunity."

David Ortiz accounted for all of the Red Sox's offense with a two-run homer in the third inning and a solo shot in the eighth.

Boston (64-42), which has lost two straight after winning eight of nine, had its lead in the East sliced to seven games over the New York Yankees.

Tuesday's defeat was only Boston's fifth in 29 games against Baltimore dating to the end of the 2005 season.

The Red Sox received a big boost Tuesday with the acquisition of former Texas closer Eric Gagne, who joins All-Stars Jonathan Papelbon and Hideki Okajima in arguably baseball's best bullpen.

Boston sent left-hander starter Kason Gabbard and two minor-league outfielders to the Rangers for Gagne, a three-time All Star and the 2003 Cy Young Award winner for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He will serve as Papelbon's primary setup man and close on days Papelbon needs rest.

"We actually love our bullpen," Francona said of his relievers, who have the lowest ERA in the majors at 2.74. "I think it just got a lot better."

Gabbard was originally scheduled to start Wednesday's game, but the trade forced Boston to insert Tim Wakefield (12-9, 4.59 ERA) into his spot. Wakefield, who will be pitching on four days' rest, improved to 5-1 in his last six starts with a strong performance in a 7-1 victory at Tampa Bay on Friday. He allowed one run and six hits in six innings with three walks and seven strikeouts.

Wakefield, who has a decision in each of his 21 starts, had surrendered at least four runs in four straight outings before shutting down the Devil Rays.

The knuckleballer is 11-11 with a 3.96 ERA in 29 starts against the Orioles, including 0-2 with a 5.00 ERA in the last three.

Baltimore's Miguel Tejada is batting .318 (21-for-66) with five home runs against Wakefield.

Steve Trachsel (5-7, 5.26) looks to post his first win in nearly two months. The right-hander, who recently missed three weeks with a strained gluteus, is 0-3 in six starts since beating Colorado on June 8. He has allowed at least five runs in four of his last five starts, compiling a 10.62 ERA in that span.

Trachsel was reached for five runs and seven hits over 4 2-3 innings Thursday as Baltimore defeated Tampa Bay 10-7. He gave up four runs and five hits in 4 1-3 innings at Boston on May 12, leaving without a decision in the Orioles' 13-4 loss.

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