With Pedro Martinez sidelined, Manny Ramirez homered and drove in three runs on Thursday as the Boston Red Sox avoided a three-game sweep by beating the Oakland Athletics 14-5.
"It was only a matter of time before the Red Sox swung the bats like they did tonight," Oakland's Eric Chavez said.
PHOTO: AP
David Ortiz hit a three-run homer for Boston, which pulled within a game of the Athletics in the American League wild-card race.
Martinez was scratched from his scheduled start because of a severe sore throat and fever. In his place, left-hander Casey Fossum (6-5) gave up five runs on eight hits in 5 1-3 innings.
Rich Harden (3-3) walked seven and gave up eight runs and four hits in 2 2-3 innings. Before the game, the A's put left-hander Mark Mulder on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Wednesday with right hip tendinitis.
Blue Jays 7, Mariners 3
In Toronto, Mark Hendrickson (8-9) took a two-hit shutout into the eighth inning, then allowed a two-run homer to Dan Wilson as Toronto beat Seattle.
AL West-leading Seattle opened a seven-game road trip by losing two of three at SkyDome. The Mariners start a four-game series at Boston on Friday.
Angels 10, Tigers 7
In Detroit, Scott Spiezio hit a tiebreaking two-run double in the seventh inning off Matt Roney (1-9) as Anaheim dealt Detroit its ninth straight loss.
Detroit dropped to 31-95 and is just 6-28 since the All-Star break. The Tigers matched their longest losing streak this season -- they opened with nine straight loses and also dropped nine in a row from June 21-29.
The Tigers are the first team with three losing streaks of nine or more since the 1998 Florida Marlins, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Jeff DaVanon homered and doubled for the Angels, who stopped a three-game losing streak.
Orioles 5, Devil Rays 4
In Baltimore, Tony Batista homered off Jesus Colome (3-7) leading off the bottom of the 10th as Baltimore beat Tampa Bay.
Baltimore overcame a 4-0, seventh-inning deficit.
Twins 4, Royals 3
In Minneapolis, Shannon Stewart hit a tying, three-run homer in the sixth inning and the go-ahead RBI single in the seventh to help Minnesota knock Kansas City out of first place.
The Royals, Chicago White Sox and Twins all began the day within a half-game of each other in the AL Central. The last time Minnesota was ahead of Kansas City was June 30.
The Royals, who have lost four straight games and seven of nine, play the Twins three more times this weekend.
White Sox 7, Rangers 3
In Chicago, Frank Thomas and Joe Crede homered to back Bartolo Colon as Chicago moved into first place in the AL Central by beating Texas.
Brewers 5, Phillies 2
Keith Ginter hit a go-ahead homer off Vincente Padilla in the sixth inning and Jason Conti hit a two-run homer as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Philadelphia Phillies to complete a three-game sweep.
After a five-game winning streak, including a three-game sweep of St. Louis, the Phillies are 0-3 on a season-high 13-game, four-city road trip. Philadelphia began the day a half-game ahead of Florida in the National League wild-card race.
"Obviously, everything is under the 'scope," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said.
Leo Estrella (4-2) got one out for the win, and Dan Kolb pitched the ninth for his 10th save. Vincent Padilla (11-9) allowed three runs and four hits in the five innings.
Dodgers 2, Expos 1
In Los Angeles, Cesar Izturis hit a pair of RBI doubles off Zach Day (7-5), and Odalis Perez (10-9) won his fourth straight start, allowing nine hits in eight innings as Los Angeles beat Montreal.
Eric Gagne got three outs for his 42nd save, extending his streak of consecutive saves converted to 50 -- four short of Tom Gordon's record.
Mets 5, Padres 1
In San Diego, Ty Wigginton hit a three-run homer in the first inning off Oliver Perez (4-7) and Roger Cedeno added a two-run shot in the second as New York avoided a three-game sweep to San Diego.
Astros 9, Cubs 3
In Houston, Craig Biggio hit a two-run homer as Houston beat Kerry Wood (11-10) for the third time this season to give Houston a win over Chicago.
Cardinals 6, Pirates 3
In St. Louis, Jim Edmonds hit his second homer of the game, a three-run shot off Joe Beimel in the ninth as St. Louis beat Pittsburgh.
Rockies 5, Marlins 4
In Denver, Todd Helton led off the ninth inning with a homer against Braden Looper (4-3) as Colorado completed a three-game sweep of Florida.
Florida rallied for two runs in the eighth and tied it in the ninth on Alex Gonzalez's homer off Justin Speier (3-1).
Diamondbacks 9, Reds 3
In Phoenix, Junior Spivey homered for the second time in three games and Luis Gonzalez drove in two runs to lead Arizona over Cincinnati.
Giants 4, Braves 3, 10 innings
In San Francisco, Barry Bonds beat Atlanta with an extra-inning home run for the second time in three days, connecting for his 652nd career home run in the 10th inning of San Francisco's victory.
After Atlanta tied it with a stirring, three-run rally in the ninth, Bonds hit his major league-leading 39th homer on the first pitch he saw from Trey Hodges (3-2). The drive -- Bonds' 100th career homer at Pacific Bell Park -- landed in the center-field stands, and his teammates mobbed Bonds at home plate.
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