BALTIMORE (AP) – Jon Lester allowed four hits in seven innings to win his third straight start, and the Boston Red Sox handed an angry Daniel Cabrera his 15th loss of the season, barely avoiding a brawl Friday night in a 4-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

Both teams charged from the dugouts and bullpens in the fourth inning after Cabrera threw a fastball behind the ear of Dustin Pedroia. The pitch came immediately after a balk produced a run to put the Red Sox up 3-0.

As plate umpire Mike DiMuro issued a warning to both teams, the Red Sox collectively emerged from the dugout, led by manager Terry Francona. After being restrained by his teammates, Cabrera waved his arms at the Red Sox, challenging them.

That caused tempers to escalate. The Orioles charged from their dugout while relievers from both teams ran in from the bullpen, at least two of them scaling the 7-foot wall. No punches were thrown, and Cabrera (9-15) was ejected from the game before order was finally restored.

The fracas deflected some of the focus from Lester (4-0), who pitched brilliantly in his eighth start since returning to the majors following a bout with lymphoma. The left-hander struck out four, walked two and allowed only one runner past second base.

Eight different players had one hit for the Red Sox, who have won six of seven to move 30 games over .500 (86-56) for the first time since 2004, the year they won the World Series.

Boston is 11-5 against Baltimore this season and 26-8 since the start of the 2006 season.

Cabrera’s outburst reflected the frustration the Orioles have experienced over their toughest stretch of the season. Baltimore has lost 15 of 17, and its 11-game skid at home is the team’s longest since coming from St. Louis before the 1954 season.

Baltimore had gone 133 games this season without being shut out before Boston did it twice in seven days, beginning with the no-hitter by Clay Buchholz on Saturday.

Cabrera allowed three runs, six hits and two walks in 3 2-3 innings, his shortest start in 54 games since April 7, 2006. The right-hander’s ejection was argued heatedly by Orioles manager Dave Trembley, to no avail.

Boston took a 2-0 lead in the second. Kevin Youkilis drew a leadoff walk and J.D. Drew hit a ground-rule double before Jason Varitek singled in a run and Coco Crisp hit a sacrifice fly.

After David Ortiz and Mike Lowell hit one-out singles in the third, Cabrera struck out Youkilis and walked Drew to load the bases before Varitek looked at a third strike.

Crisp singled and worked his way to third with two outs in the fourth before Cabrera was called for a balk and threw his ill-fated pitch to Pedroia.

Youkilis hit an RBI single in the seventh off Fernando Cabrera.

Notes: Youkilis set an AL record with his 179th consecutive errorless game at first base, breaking the mark held by Mike Hegan. … The Orioles purchased the contract of RHP Victor Santos from Cincinnati. He is expected to join the team Saturday. … Baltimore’s Kevin Millar got four plate appearances to reach 475, triggering the vesting option in his contract that assures him a contract for 2008.

AP-ES-09-07-07 2225EDT