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Matsuzaka wins again as Boston overpower Toronto

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka walks off the field at the end of the second inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in their American League baseball game at the Rogers Center in Toronto, Canada, on Wednesday. PHOTO: EPA

Daisuke Matsuzaka won his third straight decision, Manny Ramirez hit his 476th career home run and the Boston Red Sox beat Toronto 9-3 on Wednesday night to hand the Blue Jays their eighth straight loss.

David Ortiz homered and tied a career high with four hits for Boston, which has won six of its last seven. Mike Lowell and Julio Lugo also cleared the fence as the Red Sox hit four homers for the second consecutive game.

Matsuzaka (4-2) struck out eight in seven innings, allowing just one run and five hits.

The matchup between Matsuzaka and Toronto's Tomo Ohka was just the fourth time in the history of Major League Baseball that two Japanese starters have faced off. The last time was June 19, 2002, when Ohka, then with Montreal, beat Kansas City's Mac Suzuki.

Ohka (2-4) allowed three runs and six hits in four-plus innings. He walked five, one intentional, and struck out two.

Yankees 6, Rangers 2

At New York, Derek Jeter drove in three runs, Mike Mussina (2-1) pitched three-hit ball for six innings and the Yankees extended their domination of the Rangers.

Bobby Abreu and Hideki Matsui each hit an RBI double in a four-run first off Robinson Tejeda (3-3), helping the Yankees improve to 18-2 against Texas since July 20, 2005 -- including 5-0 this year.

New York (16-16) reached .500 for the first time since dropping to 8-8 with a loss at Boston on April 21. The Yankees are 8-3 following a seven-game losing streak.

Mariners 9, Tigers 2

At Detroit, Jose Guillen hit a three-run homer, Cha Seung Baek pitched a six-hitter and Seattle snapped Detroit's eight-game winning streak.

Raul Ibanez had three hits, scored two runs and drove in one. Seattle had three runs each in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, and finished with 16 hits -- including a season high-tying six doubles.

In other AL action it was:

* Royals 3, Athletics 2

* White Sox 6, Twins 3

* Angels 3, Indians 2

* Orioles 1, Devil Rays 0, 10 innings

Geoff Jenkins homered and drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Washington Nationals 3-1 for their sixth straight National League win on Wednesday.

Milwaukee finished a 10-game homestand 9-1. The Nationals' longest losing streak since moving to Washington now stands at eight.

J.J. Hardy's 19-game hitting streak ended but Derrick Turnbow (1-0) pitched a perfect eighth for the win.

Cardinals 9, Rockies 2

Aaron Miles contributed three hits and an RBI and Scott Spiezio had two hits and two RBIs for the Cardinals, who scored two runs in the second, two in the fifth, four in the sixth and one in the seventh. St. Louis completed a 4-2 homestand.

Mets 5, Giants 3

At San Francisco, David Wright hit a go-ahead, two-run double in the ninth for New York.

Carlos Delgado hit a solo homer and doubled in the tying run in the eighth for the Mets, who rallied to win their second straight series. Ruben Gotay also homered.

In other NL action it was:

* Astros 3, Reds 2

* Phillies 9, Diamondbacks 3

* Dodgers 5, Marlins 3

* Braves 3, Padres 2

* Cubs 1, Pirates 0
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