BALTIMORE - Daniel Bard junked his delivery in the fourth inning Wednesday, pitching from the stretch as he tried to find some way to get the ball over the plate.

It paid off in the sense that he pitched long enough to get the victory against the Orioles, going 5 ⅓ innings in a game the Red Sox won, 6-5. But it was another game in which Bard struggled.

The righthander allowed two runs on five hits with four walks, a hit batter, and two strikeouts.

“I couldn’t maintain a consistent delivery or arm slot,’’ Bard said. “I battled as much as I could. I was able to keep them to two runs and keep us in the ballgame.’’

Manager Bobby Valentine credited catcher Kelly Shoppach with nursing Bard through his outing.

In his last five starts, Bard (4-5) has walked 19 and struck out nine over 28 ⅔ innings.

“It’s really weird,’’ Bard said. “They’re not hitting the ball hard consistently off me. It’s just a struggle getting ahead in the count. My head’s in a good place and I feel confident out there. But I’m having trouble repeating the delivery at the same time.’’

Right again

Adrian Gonzalez was back in right field for the fourth time in the last five games. The ball came his way three times, and Gonzalez made both catches he should have made. The other was a bloop single.

Gonzalez caught a line drive in the first inning, and in the fourth he made a nice running backhanded catch going toward the foul line. He then turned and bounced off the padded wall.

“Totally impressed,’’ Valentine said. “You kidding? He was a stride to the wall and he knew to roll. The line drive was no day at the beach, either. Hooking and topspin.’’

Gonzalez has played flawlessly in the outfield in the four games he has been out there.

“I’m a defensive specialist,’’ he said, smiling. “It’s not like I’m hitting.’’