Zach Eflin shines in Orioles' 5-1 victory over Red Sox

— In a commanding performance, Zach Eflin led the Baltimore Orioles to a 5-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night, improving his record to 4-0 since joining the team. Eflin pitched six innings, allowing just one run and five hits while striking out a season-high eight batters without issuing a walk. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde praised Eflin's ability to effectively pitch to both sides of the plate and his thorough preparation, noting that when he executes his game plan, he becomes difficult to hit. The Orioles' offense was bolstered by home runs from Gunnar Henderson and Cedric Mullins, contributing to the team's strong showing against the Red Sox. Despite Eflin's solid outing, relief pitcher Gregory Soto faced some challenges in the seventh inning, allowing two of three batters to reach base. However, Burch Smith came in to secure the inning with a double play, maintaining the Orioles' lead. With this victory, the Orioles have demonstrated their dominance over the Red Sox this season, boasting a 6-1 record against them and a 27-13 mark within the American League East. Meanwhile, the Red Sox are struggling to keep pace in the standings, prompting roster changes, including the outright assignment of infielder Jamie Westbrook to Triple-A Worcester. In injury news, Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander appeared to sustain a leg injury after fouling a pitch off his right leg in the seventh inning. Looking ahead, Cooper Criswell is expected to take the mound for Boston in their next game.