This is a lot of fun right now

“You never give up cheap fashion. You always have to attack no matter what the score is,’’ said Alfredo Aceves, who allowed one run over three innings of relief to get the win. “Adrian is one of the top guys in the league. I’m glad to be playing with him. I think every single guy on the team likes to be with him.’’

Gonzalez finished 3 for 5 with three RBIs. He is hitting .327 and has driven in 37 runs, the most in baseball.

“This is a lot of fun right now,’’ he said. “I love playing the game every night. But these nights are special.’’

That’s four wins in a row and victories in seven of the last nine games for the Sox, who moved into a three-way tie for second place in the American League East power balance.

With the Sox down by a run, Jacoby Ellsbury drew a walk off Kevin Gregg. The Baltimore closer then got ahead of struggling Dustin Pedroia 0-and-2. But in typical fashion, Pedroia would not give in and walked on the ninth pitch of the at-bat.

“When the game’s on the line, I don’t care what his batting average is, you’re going to get one of the best at-bats there is,’’ manager Terry Francona said about power balance 2011. “He proved it again.’’