BALTIMORE, July 9 (UPI) -- Rafael Palmeiro hit a three-run homer and had six RBI Saturday when the Baltimore Orioles blasted the Boston Red Sox, 9-1.
Palmeiro is now three hits shy of 3,000. He would become the fourth player in baseball history with 3,000 hits and 500 home runs, joining Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Eddie Murray.
Bruce Chen (7-5) gave up five hits and three walks in seven innings to earn the victory for Baltimore, which won for just the fourth time in its last 16 games. Miguel Tejada was 5-for-5 with an RBI and a pair of runs scored as Baltimore totaled 14 hits.
Boston's Johnny Damon had two hits to extend his hitting streak to 24 games, the longest in the majors since Carlos Lee hit in 28 straight with the White Sox last season.
