Asher Wojciechowski threw six shutout innings, Renato Nunez crushed a three-run home run, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the host Boston Red Sox 4-1 Friday in the opener of a three-game series.

Nunez's blast was his 30th of the season, and he drove in all four runs as the Orioles (53-107) kicked off the final weekend of the regular season with a rare win over their American League East division rival.

Wojciechowski (4-8) held the Red Sox to four hits, walking one and striking out six.

Boston (83-77) lost to Baltimore for just the sixth time in 17 meetings this year.

Wojciechowski ended his season with a gem against the same club he beat in his best start of the year on July 21. In that outing, the right-hander had carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning, ultimately giving up one hit and striking out 10 over 7 1/3 scoreless frames.

On Friday, Wojciechowski similarly dominated, the only real threat he faced coming when Jackie Bradley Jr. doubled with Sam Travis on first base after being hit by pitch in the fourth inning. Travis tried to score but was out at home on the throw from right fielder DJ Stewart to end the inning.

After Wojciechowski departed, Tanner Scott struck out a pair in a perfect seventh, and Mychal Givens whiffed the side in order in the eighth. In the ninth, Richard Bleier gave up an RBI single to Xander Bogaerts, but Bogaerts was picked off first before Bleier got the final two outs to preserve the win.

Nunez supplied the Orioles with all the offense they needed in the third inning when he followed an Austin Hays double and Trey Mancini walk with a two-out blast over the Green Monster in left field for a 3-0 lead. He added an RBI single with two outs in the ninth to put Baltimore up 4-0.

Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi (2-1) was tagged for three runs on three hits and four walks over five innings. He struck out three.

--Field Level Media