David Ortiz hit a home run and a two-run single in a six-run fourth inning as the Boston Red Sox beat the Florida Marlins 8-2 in an interleague game on Tuesday.
Ortiz led off the fourth with a solo home run to right field and drove in two more runs later in the inning with his single to center field that gave the Red Sox an 8-1 lead.
“Like I told you guys at the beginning, it’s all about timing,” Ortiz said to reporters. “It’s working. I was trying to get my timing.”
Ortiz, who had earlier been mired in a batting slump that forced him to have his eyes tested, has now hit safely in 10 of the past 13 games, driving in 10 runs and scoring six times.
Boston’s Tim Wakefield (9-3) earned the win, holding the Marlins to six hits and two runs over six innings. He struck out four and walked one.
The 42-year-old knuckleballer has never been an All-Star but is hoping his performance this season will draw additional votes.
“I’ve been [a candidate] a couple of times in my career,” he said. “Hopefully I’m at least considered for a spot [this year], and if I make it, great. If not, I’ll finish up the second half.”
Manager Terry Francona said the Red Sox were trying to be more conservative in how long they keep Wakefield in the game.
“In the past couple of years, we have gotten toward the end and he’s worn down and his shoulder has bothered him,” Francona said. “If we can be cognizant of that, we won’t get to that point.”
The American League East division leading Red Sox chased Florida starter Chris Volstad (4-7) after he loaded the bases with a walk with two out in the fourth.
Reliever Burke Badenhop walked in a run, then gave up the two-run single to Ortiz.
Chris Coghlan drove in both of the Marlins’ runs with a single in the third and a double in the fifth.
RANGERS 6, ASTROS 1
At Arlington, Texas, Ian Kinsler homered twice and Texas beat Houston as the Astros’ Ivan Rodriguez matched the major league record for games caught.
Rodriguez, who began his career at age 19 in 1991 and played 12 seasons in Texas, homered for the Astros. It was his 2,226th career game behind the plate to tie Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk.
Kinsler, 4 for 33 with no RBIs the previous eight games, put the Rangers ahead to stay with his fourth leadoff homer this season. He added another solo shot in the second off slumping left-hander Wandy Rodriguez (5-6).
Kevin Millwood (7-4) worked seven innings, allowing one run to win his third straight start.
RAYS 12, ROCKIES 4
At Denver, Evan Longoria, Carlos Pena and the Tampa Bay Rays powered their way past Colorado, snapping the Rockies’ 11-game winning streak.
Longoria and Pena hit two of the Rays’ five homers. Kapler, Ben Zobrist and B.J. Upton also homered.
In Tuesday’s other games it was:
• Mets 6, Orioles 2
• Yankees 5, Nationals 3
• Brewers 7, Indians 5
• Cardinals 11, Tigers 2
• Royals 5, Diamondbacks 0
• Twins 8, Pirates 2
• Mariners 5, Padres 0
• Angels 8, Giants 1
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