Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Luke Scott ripped the go-ahead three-run homer and the Orioles touched Josh Beckett for five runs, lifting Baltimore to a 5-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox in the opener of a brief two-game series.

Scott was 3-for-4, while Brian Roberts and Adam Jones added two hits apiece for Baltimore, winners in four of its last five coming off a 10-game road trip.

O's starter Jeremy Guthrie (2-3) went six-plus innings, allowing three runs -- two earned -- on eight hits and one walk. He struck out seven for his first victory at home since July 27 of last season.

Beckett (4-3) lasted only 5 2/3 innings, surrendering five runs on 11 hits and two walks. He did strike out five in the loss.

"We were hoping that he (Beckett) wasn't going to be on his A game tonight," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said."He started out like he was. Our plan was to make him throw as many pitches as we could and let's see if we can get him. The guy's were ready for the challenge. That's why we are here."

Boston is in the midst of a mini-slump having lost five of its last seven and is 4-5 on a current 10-game road trip. Boston slid out of first place for the first time since May 1, falling a half-game back of the Tampa Bay Rays, who beat the Yankees in 11 innings on Tuesday.

Manny Ramirez was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI, and Dustin Pedroia had two hits for the Sox.

The O's rallied in the third with two outs, getting an RBI single from Kevin Millar, followed by a Scott three-run homer to right, giving Baltimore a 5-3 lead.

Boston put together a rally of its own in the seventh with consecutive singles from Sean Casey and Pedroia to start the inning, chasing Guthrie from the game. Jamie Walker came on and moved the runners to second and third on a wild pitch, then walked David Ortiz to load the bases with no outs. Jim Johnson replaced Walker and got Ramirez to dribble one back to the mound for a double play, with forces at home and first. Johnson then got Mike Lowell to fly out to end the inning.

Johnson stayed on for the eighth and allowed Boston to cut the lead to one on a one-out Alex Cora RBI single. The Red Sox had runners on first and second with one out in the inning, but George Sherrill came on for Johnson to get the final five outs of the game. He retired Casey on a fly ball and Pedroia on a grounder, and fanned Ortiz and Lowell for his 14th save of the season.

Boston jumped on top in the first on a Ramirez BRI single, scoring Coco Crisp. Crisp led off with a single and moved to third on an Ortiz double. Ortiz then scored when Aubrey Huff misplayed a grounder from Lowell.

Huff moved in from the outfield to fill in for Melvin Mora, who took a ball off his shoulder in warmups and was scratched. J.D. Drew then grounded to Millar at first, as he watched the ball go between his legs for the second error of the inning, scoring Ramirez to make it 3-0.

Baltimore got one back in the second on three straight two-out singles ending with Jay Payton driving home Scott.