Surging Red Sox draw one game closer to Tampa Bay
Home run by home run, the surging Boston Red Sox pulled closer to first place in the AL East during a 13-5 victory over the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays and All-Star Scott Kazmir on Monday night. The defending World Series champions won for the first time in seven games at Tropicana Field this season, climbing within percentage points (.002) of the Rays for the first time in two months.
Ortiz, who finished with four RBIs, hit a three-run homer in the first inning after Kazmir (11-7) threw nine straight balls to begin the game. Two batters later, Lowell hit a solo shot for a 4-0 lead.
The Red Sox added seven more runs in the fourth, helping Daisuke Matsuzaka (17-2) become the first Japanese-born pitcher to win 17 games in a season.
Yankees 4, White Sox 2
NEW YORK – Mariano Rivera moved into second place on the career saves list and the Yankees put a small crimp in Chicago’s postseason plans.
Beginning its final week at Yankee Stadium – barring an incredible playoff surge – New York got a two-run homer from Xavier Nady in the second inning and a tiebreaking double by pinch-hitter Wilson Betemit in the seventh.
The White Sox, who still lead the AL Central by 11/2 games over Minnesota, wasted six strong innings by Mark Buehrle and DeWayne Wise’s two-run shot off Alfredo Aceves.
Joba Chamberlain struck out two in a scoreless eighth after Phil Coke (1-0) pitched a perfect seventh to win his first major league decision. Ehren Wassermann (1-2) took the loss.
Rivera got three quick outs for his 36th save in 37 chances this season and No. 479 of his career, passing Lee Smith for second place.
Indians 3, Twins 1
CLEVELAND – Scott Lewis pitched six shutout innings in his second career start and the Indians beat Minnesota.
Lewis (2-0) has yet to allow a run in 14 innings since being called up from the minors Sept. 7. The left-hander allowed three hits and two walks.
Minnesota remained 11/2 games behind the Chicago White Sox and will play eight of its final 12 games in the division, where they are 39-25.
Kelly Shoppach hit his 21st homer in the fourth inning off Kevin Slowey (12-10) to put Cleveland ahead 1-0. Grady Sizemore singled with one out in the fifth and scored on a two-out homer by Shin-Soo Choo to make it 3-0.
Jensen Lewis, the fourth pitcher used by Indians manager Eric Wedge, allowed Joe Mauer’s ninth homer with one out in the ninth, but got his ninth save in 10 chances.
Royals 3, Mariners 0
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kyle Davies matched a career high with eight strikeouts in eight innings and combined with closer Joakim Soria on a four-hitter, lifting Kansas City over struggling Seattle.
Davies (7-7) didn’t allow a hit until Jose Lopez lined a high fastball into right for a single leading off the fifth, and had Seattle swinging through off-speed pitches, striking out four of five batters in the second and third innings.
Soria worked a perfect ninth for his 38th save in 41 chances, giving the Royals their fourth straight victory.
Seattle starter Carlos Silva (4-15) allowing two runs and eight hits in 5 1-3 innings.
The Mariners didn’t give him much help, getting shut out for the 10th time this season for their fifth straight loss.
Nationals 7, Mets 2
WASHINGTON – John Lannan limited New York to one hit over seven innings, Anderson Hernandez delivered a two-run single off a tiring Pedro Martinez, and the Nationals beat the fading-again Mets.
The Mets’ lead over idle Philadelphia in the NL East fell to a half-game; New York held a 31/2-game cushion as recently as Wednesday. The Mets have 13 games left, Philadelphia has 12.
Last season, the Mets led the Phillies by seven games with only 17 to play before a historic collapse ceded the division title and kept New York out of the playoffs altogether.
Trailing 7-1 Monday, the Mets threatened to make things interesting once Lannan (9-13) left the game. The rookie left-hander gave up a double in the third to Brian Schneider, who wound up scoring on Jose Reyes’ RBI groundout – and that was it.
Martinez (5-5) went six innings, allowing four runs and eight hits.
Copyright Associated Press 2008