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Ortiz, Ramirez down Blue Jays

David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez combined for five hits and five RBIs and Tim Wakefield won his third straight start as the Boston Red Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-4 in the American League on Thursday.

Ortiz went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and Ramirez went 2-for-4 with three RBIs to help the Red Sox end a three-game losing streak.

Wakefield (10-8) scattered nine hits and walked none in six innings, allowing four runs, including back-to-back homers by Matt Stairs and Alex Rios in the sixth when Toronto cut a 5-2 deficit to one run. But in the bottom half Ortiz hit an RBI double and scored on Ramirez's single to give Boston a 7-4 lead.

Jonathan Papelbon pitched the ninth for his 21st save.

Roy Halladay (10-4) allowed the first four Red Sox batters to reach base and score, giving up five runs in all and eight hits in five innings.

Rios went 3-for-4 with a single, double and homer, and Vernon Wells and Aaron Hill both had two hits for the Blue Jays.

White Sox 9, Orioles 7

At Baltimore, Jim Thome's 487th career homer ignited a four-run first inning for Chicago and the White Sox held on.

Jermaine Dye had a season-high three hits, including a homer, and Rob Mackowiak had three hits for the White Sox, who began an 11-game road trip with their third straight victory.

Jon Garland (7-6) allowed two runs and eight hits over seven innings in winning his fourth straight start against Baltimore.

Kevin Millar had three hits, including a three-run homer, and four RBIs for the Orioles.

Yankees 7, Devil Rays 3

At St. Petersburg, Florida, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu homered to back New York starter Andy Pettitte.

Rodriguez hit his major league-leading 31st homer five pitches after Jeter hit his first in nearly a month. Abreu finished the fourth-inning power surge with a two-out solo shot off right-hander James Shields (7-5) that made it 4-1.

Pettitte (5-6) rebounded from allowing eight runs in consecutive starts for the first time in his career, giving up six hits and three runs in five-and-two-third innings.

Twins 6, Athletics 2

At Minneapolis, Michael Cuddyer tied a career high with four hits and Minnesota took advantage of Oakland starter Chad Gaudin's lack of control for the victory.

Gaudin (8-4) entered the game fourth in the AL with a 2.88 ERA, but he walked five hitters - four in the first inning. He allowed five runs and six hits in four-plus innings, and has walked 29 batters in his last eight outings.

Scott Baker (4-3) gave up two runs and six hits in six innings for the Twins, who handed the A's their fifth loss in six games.

Mariners 3, Tigers 2

At Seattle, Adrian Beltre hit a two-run single and stayed alive on the basepaths long enough to allow the go-ahead run to score in a wacky sequence that gave Seattle the victory that snapped Detroit's five-game winning streak.

Seattle (50-36) has won four straight to improve to a season-best 14 games over .500.

Felix Hernandez (6-4) scattered 10 hits and allowed two runs in 6 1-3 innings to win his third straight decision. J.J. Putz got the last three outs for his 25th save.

Magglio Ordonez, the AL batting leader, drove in two runs and Gary Sheffield had three hits and stole two bases for the Tigers.

The Tigers led 2-0 before Seattle scored three times in the fifth, culminating with Beltre's adventures on the basepaths.

After Jose Vidro singled for his third hit, Andrew Miller (4-3) walked Jose Guillen and Richie Sexson to load the bases with two outs. Beltre then singled sharply to drive in Vidro and Guillen, who scored when catcher Mike Rabelo dropped right fielder Ordonez's throw.

Rabelo, playing because All-Star Ivan Rodriguez was ejected in the previous inning, then threw to second in an attempt to catch Beltre trying to advance. Second base umpire Bruce Froemming signaled safe twice as shortstop Carlos Guillen missed tags before and after Beltre slid through the bag. He tried to go back to second and Guillen missed again.

AP, NEW YORK

Jose Reyes and Ruben Gotay opened with consecutive home runs, the first time that happened in the Mets' 46-season history, and New York beat Cincinnati 3-2 in the National League on Thursday.

Reyes led off the bottom of the first with his fifth homer and Gotay followed with his fourth, both against Bronson Arroyo (3-10).

It was the third time this season the Mets hit back-to-back homers.

Orlando Hernandez (5-4) allowed three hits and two runs in six innings. He struck out seven and walked three.

Scott Hatteberg hit a two-run single in the second to tie it at 2.

Lastings Milledge, recalled from the minors earlier in the day, led off the New York fifth with a single. After two outs, Gotay's drive fell just in front of diving center fielder Ryan Freel.

Milledge barely beat the play at home.

Billy Wagner got the last three outs for his 18th save.
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