MLB: Boston 18, Baltimore 9 (2nd game)

BOSTON, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- Conor Jackson belted a grand slam Monday and the Boston Red Sox pounded out 20 hits in an 18-9 pummeling of Baltimore in the second game of a doubleheader.

Jed Lowrie drove in four with a three-run shot and an RBI single, while Dustin Pedroia went 3-for-4 with four runs batted in for the American League wild card-leading Red Sox, who split the twinbill with the Orioles.

The Game 2 win was only the fifth in 18 contests for the Bosox and enabled them to remain two games ahead of Tampa Bay in the wild-card chase with eight games to play.

Jacoby Ellsbury went 3-for-5 with a solo homer and Marco Scutaro added three hits, two RBI and three runs scored in the lop-sided victory.

Scott Atchison (1-0) earned the win with 1 1/3 frames of scoreless relief after starter John Lackey was pounded for eight runs on 11 hits over just 4 1/3 innings.

O's starter Brian Matusz (1-8) lasted only 1 2/3 innings, surrendering six runs on six hits.

Nolan Reimold drove in three runs, and Nick Markakis and Vladimir Guerrero each plated a pair for Baltimore.