Middlebrooks connects off Hunter as Red Sox split squad roll to 6-5 win over Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. – Will Middlebrooks hit his second home run off Tommy Hunter in a four-day span, a solo shot in the sixth inning that helped a Boston Red Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-5 Tuesday.

Brock Holt and Ryan Lavarnway also connected for the Red Sox, who stopped Baltimore's seven-game winning streak.

Hunter is vying to replace closer Jim Johnson, who was traded during the offseason. Hunter has pitched three innings this spring training and yielded two runs — both on homers by Middlebrooks.

This time, Middlebrooks pounced on Hunter's first pitch to put Boston up 3-2. A.J. Pierzynski followed with a single but Hunter avoided further damage.

Holt homered in the third off Miguel Gonzalez, who was struck in the shin by a line drive in his previous outing.