BALTIMORE (AP) – Pinch-hitter Jason Varitek singled in the go-ahead run in the ninth inning, and the Boston Red Sox got home runs from David Ortiz and Coco Crisp in a 7-6 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night.

Crisp had three hits and scored three runs, including the tiebreaker in the ninth, to help the Red Sox extend their AL East lead to 61/2 games over the idle New York Yankees. Boston has been in first place for 142 games, its longest streak since 1986. It was the Orioles’ 14th loss in 16 games.

Crisp led off the ninth with an infield hit off Danys Baez (0-6). He stole second and came home when Varitek lined a single to left.

Boston rookie Clay Buchholz, who pitched a no-hitter Saturday against Baltimore in his last appearance, got off to a shaky start in his encore. Entering in the sixth with the score tied at 6, he walked Brian Roberts and gave up a single to Redman before walking Nick Markakis to load the bases with no outs.

But Miguel Tejada hit into a 5-2-3 double play and Millar struck out, and Buchholz (3-0) followed with two perfect innings to extend his streak of shutout innings to 12. Jonathan Papelbon struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 34th save.

Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield allowed six runs and nine hits in 3 2-3 innings, matching his shortest outing of the season. It was the first time in 27 starts this season the knuckleballer did not receive a decision; his streak of 26 games was longest in the majors since Jack McDowell had 27 in 1993.