David Ortiz hit two homers and drove in a career-high six runs to lead the Boston Red Sox from an early four-run deficit to a 9-8 win over the Chicago White Sox on Friday night in a meeting of the AL's two best teams.
Ortiz went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and broke a 5-all tie with a leadoff homer in the seventh then added a three-run shot in the eighth for his 28th homer and 99th RBI of the season.
The Red Sox took the matchup between the AL's two best teams, winning their fifth straight game and 13th in 15. Chicago lost its second game in its last six.
The Red Sox held on in the ninth when Curt Schilling allowed a solo homer to Tadahito Iguchi and a two-run shot to Paul Konerko.
Mark Buehrle (13-5) gave up two homers -- a two-run shot by Jason Varitek that tied the game in the fifth and the solo homer by Ortiz. He allowed 12 hits, the second most this season, in seven innings.
David Wells battled Buehrle before leaving with two outs and a runner on first in the seventh. Chad Bradford (1-0) replaced him and retired both batters he faced.
Yankees 6, Rangers 5
At New York, Derek Jeter hit another go-ahead home run and the Yankees' beleaguered bullpen made it hold up, sending Texas to its fifth straight loss.
With Mariano Rivera and Tom Gordon held out after a heavy workload, the Yankees relied on a different set of relievers. Felix Rodriguez, Wayne Franklin, Shawn Chacon and Tanyon Sturtze did the job, combining for four scoreless innings. Sturtze got the save.
A night after Jeter hit a tiebreaking homer in the seventh inning that beat Texas 9-8, he connected again. His 14th home run of the season -- an opposite-field shot into the upper deck in right -- put the Yankees ahead 6-5 in the fourth, and that was enough.
Al Leiter (3-3) held on through five innings for the win. Rookie C.J. Wilson (0-5) gave up Jeter's home run on his second pitch.
Devil Rays 8, Indians 6
At Cleveland, Jorge Cantu homered and had three RBIs, Mark Hendrickson survived a miserable start and Tampa Bay snapped a four-game losing streak.
Cleveland equaled a season high with four errors -- a fifth was taken away by the official scorer after the game. The Indians, who didn't arrive home until 3 a.m. Friday, foiled potential rallies by grounding into four double plays, including one by Aaron Boone to end the game.
Cantu hit a two-run single in Tampa Bay's six-run second inning and added a solo homer, his 16th, in the fourth off Jake Westbrook (10-13).
Hendrickson (7-7) made it through 5 1-3 innings, allowing four runs and 12 hits. Danys Baez work the ninth for his 24th save.
Blue Jays 12, Orioles 0
At Baltimore, Josh Towers scattered nine hits in his third career complete game, and Gregg Zaun homered and drove in five runs for Toronto.
Corey Koskie, Alex Rios and Shea Hillenbrand also homered for the Blue Jays, who batted around during a four-run first inning and did it again in a six-run sixth.
Both benches emptied in the top of the first when Daniel Cabrera (8-11) hit Eric Hinske with a pitch. Hinske moved toward the mound and shouted at Cabrera before Baltimore catcher Sal Fasano restrained Hinske. Order was restored before any punches were thrown.
The Orioles played without Rafael Palmeiro, who watched a second straight game from the dugout after returning Thursday from a 10-day suspension for using steroids.
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