BALTIMORE (Interstat) — Connelly Early pitched six-plus effective innings and Ceddanne Rafaela drove in a key run with a triple as the Boston Red Sox defeated the Baltimore Orioles 5-3 on Sunday afternoon at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Early allowed two earned runs on four hits over 6 2/3 innings, striking out four and walking two. He earned his second victory of the season against one loss. Aroldis Chapman recorded the final three outs for his fifth save, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning.

Boston improved to 11-17, while Baltimore fell to 13-15. The Red Sox split the three-game weekend series after the Orioles won 10-3 on Friday and Boston rebounded with a 17-1 rout on Saturday.

The game turned in the fifth inning when Boston sent eight batters to the plate and scored three runs against Orioles starter Kyle Bradish. Caleb Durbin singled to lead off the inning and advanced on a groundout by Connor Wong. Andruw Monasterio followed with an RBI single to center field that scored Durbin and put Boston on the board.

Jarren Duran then grounded into a force out that erased Monasterio at second base, but Willson Contreras followed with a two-run home run to left-center field, his sixth homer of the season, scoring Duran and extending the lead to 3-0.

Baltimore answered in the bottom of the fifth when Samuel Basallo hit a solo home run to right field, his fifth of the year, trimming the deficit to 3-1.

Boston added two more runs in the sixth inning to push the lead to 5-1. Wilyer Abreu led off with a single and Rafaela followed with a triple to center field that scored Abreu. Marcelo Mayer then singled softly to left field, bringing home Rafaela. The Red Sox had a chance for more but a fielder’s choice by Monasterio resulted in Mayer being thrown out at home plate, and Monasterio was caught stealing second to end the inning.

Baltimore got one run back in the bottom of the sixth when Gunnar Henderson led off with a solo home run to right-center field, his ninth homer of the season, pulling the Orioles within 5-2.

The Orioles threatened again in the eighth inning. With one out, Colton Cowser singled and advanced to second on a groundout by Taylor Ward. Henderson then delivered an RBI single to left field that scored Cowser and made it 5-3. But Garrett Whitlock struck out Adley Rutschman to end the inning and preserve the lead.

Chapman closed the door in the ninth, striking out Tyler O’Neill and Samuel Basallo around a flyout by Pete Alonso.

Bradish took the loss, allowing three earned runs on four hits over five innings with three strikeouts and two walks. He fell to 1-3.

For Boston, Rafaela went 2-for-4 with a double and a triple, driving in one run. Contreras was 1-for-3 with the homer and two RBIs. Durbin added a single and scored a run. Monasterio had a single and an RBI.

For Baltimore, Henderson went 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs. Basallo went 2-for-4 with a solo homer. Adley Rutschman singled in the first inning.

Early, who had a rough outing his previous start against the New York Yankees on April 21, allowing three earned runs over 5 1/3 innings in a 4-0 loss, bounced back effectively. He had won his prior start on April 15 at Minnesota, allowing one earned run over six innings.

The Red Sox entered the game having lost four straight before Saturday’s blowout victory, including a three-game sweep by the New York Yankees. Boston managed only four runs total in that series.

Baltimore had won four of five before Sunday’s loss, including a series win at Kansas City and the Friday afternoon rout of Boston.

The game was played in front of 32,511 fans and lasted 2 hours, 40 minutes.

Boston pitchers combined for 16 strikes, 55 balls and 16 balls in play, while Baltimore pitchers combined for 12 strikes, 36 balls and 12 balls in play.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Baltimore 4, Boston 2. The Interstat ELO system gave Boston a 51.90 percent probability to win. Baltimore was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus-1.5.