BOSTON — While Fenway Park fans were watching the Baltimore Orioles launch balls well over the Green Monster on Tuesday night, they could take some consolation when they looked down.

On the left-field scoreboard, where all the major league scores are updated, there was this score:

Tampa Bay 6, Toronto 2.

The Red Sox lost to Baltimore 6-3, with all of the Orioles’ runs coming from three home runs, but Boston retained its two-game lead in the American League East.

Scoreboard watching is a rite of September.

“We’d be lying to say we don’t look over every night and see how they did,” Red Sox third baseman Travis Shaw said. “We control our own destiny.

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“We want to win obviously. But when you lose and you see the Blue Jays lose, we’ll be in the same spot (Wednesday).”

But the two-game lead is now not only over the Jays, but also the Orioles.

And just four games back are the Yankees, 3-0 winners over the Dodgers.

“Year after year, this is an extremely difficult division,” Red Sox Manager John Farrell said. “And this year is no different.”

The Red Sox and Orioles play the third game of their series Wednesday and, despite what Shaw said, Boston is not in the same spot. Instead of Drew Pomeranz starting, it will be Rick Porcello, he of the 20-3 record, including an unbeaten mark at Fenway.

On Monday, Boston and David Price beat the Orioles.

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You figured the Red Sox had a chance for a sweep if Pomeranz could repeat some of his recent success. In his previous seven starts, he never gave up more than three runs (and three runs only once).

But Tuesday, he gave up a three-run homer to J.J. Hardy on a fastball and a two-run homer to Nolan Reimold on a curveball as Baltimore jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the second inning. It was his worst start since joining Boston in late July – two innings, five earned runs.

“Just the way it goes,” Pomeranz said.

Pomeranz probably wasn’t trying play to down his poor start – but rather turn the page.

At least I hope so.

The Red Sox had some good news to share before the game: They activated left fielder Andrew Benintendi, sooner than expected in his recovery from a sprained knee.

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“Thankfully he has youth and quick healing on his side,” Farrell said.

And the organization celebrated the announcement that Yoan Moncada was named Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year, the first time a Red Sox player has received the award.

That last bit of news will make for great trivia (and while we’re at it, Moncada is the second Sea Dogs player to get the honor, after Josh Beckett in 2001).

But the Benintendi news is much bigger for the Red Sox, because he can help Boston right now. It has become apparent that Moncada, after nine straight strikeouts, cannot.

Benintendi was batting .324 with an .850 OPS when he injured his knee Aug. 24 while running the bases.

“We held our collective breath,” Farrell said.

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After Benintendi went through a workout Monday and a simulated game Tuesday, the Red Sox activated him. “No restrictions. He’s ready to go,” Farrell said.

The quiet Benintendi was relieved.

“We dodged a bullet and I’m glad to be back,” he said.

The Red Sox will ease Benintendi back into the lineup to shake off rust. But he will eventually be sharing time in left with Chris Young.

Meanwhile, Moncada will sit, watch and learn.


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