BOSTON (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles ended a successful road trip with a wasted opportunity to climb into a tie for the AL East lead.

When Ryan Flaherty struck out with the bases loaded in the ninth inning Sunday, the Red Sox had a 2-1 win and the Orioles headed home after going 6-3 on the journey to Oakland, Seattle and Boston.

“We needed this one. Obviously, going down to this last stretch every game is looked at as a must win,” Adam Jones said. “We had a good road trip. We really, really wanted this one to finish off the road trip, but it happens.”

The Orioles remained one game behind the New York Yankees and lead Oakland by one game for the top wild-card spot in the league. The Athletics beat the Yankees 5-4.

The Red Sox snapped a four-game losing streak — and ended the Orioles six-game winning streak — but are trying to finish out of the division cellar with their first losing record since 1997.

The Orioles almost completed a three-game sweep after Cody Ross doubled in the go-ahead run in the eighth. They loaded the bases with one out against Andrew Bailey on a single by Reynolds, a ground-rule double by pinch-hitter Jim Thome and an intentional walk to Chris Davis. But Boston’s closer got Manny Machado to ground into a forceout at home, then struck out Ryan Flaherty to nail down his sixth save in eight opportunities.

The decisive run came in when Dustin Pedroia led off the eighth with a double against Luis Ayala (5-5) and Ross followed with his tiebreaking hit.

Felix Doubront held the Orioles hitless through four innings and gave up hits to the first three batters in the fifth. Lew Ford singled, took third on a double by Davis and scored on a single by Machado.