ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - David Ortiz had an RBI single on the first pitch he saw in 10 days and scored twice in his return to Boston's lineup, a 13-2 victory over the AL West-leading Texas Rangers on Wednesday night.
Carl Crawford, Jacoby Ellsbury and Adrian Gonzalez hit two-run homers in consecutive innings for the Red Sox, who took over first place in the AL East after the New York Yankees lost 6-4 in 10 innings to Oakland. Crawford matched a career high with his five RBIs.
Josh Beckett (11-5) allowed one run and four hits over six innings.
Ortiz was back in the lineup after missing nine games because of bursitis in his right heel.
Mike Napoli homered and had an RBI single for the Rangers, who have lost five of seven.
Athletics 6, Yankees 4
NEW YORK (AP) - Coco Crisp homered twice and drove in five runs, going 4 for 4 with a three-run shot in the 10th inning that sent the Athletics to a win over the Yankees.
No. 9 batter Scott Sizemore was 4 for 4 with a tying double off CC Sabathia in the eighth and Oakland won at Yankee Stadium for the second consecutive night to clinch a series victory. The A's had lost 10 straight series against New York, an Oakland record for futility against any team.
Nick Swisher homered twice and Mark Teixeira also connected for the Yankees, who began the night two percentage points ahead of second-place Boston in the AL East. New York had dropped only two of its previous 20 series since June 10.
Blue Jays 4, Royals 3
TORONTO (AP) - Brett Lawrie hit a tiebreaking home run in the seventh inning, Jose Bautista added his major league-leading 37th homer and the Blue Jays beat the Royals.
Jesse Litsch (5-3) pitched one scoreless inning of relief for the win. Frank Francisco worked ninth for his 11th save.
Louis Coleman (1-3) took the loss for the Royals, who have not won consecutive games since Aug. 3-4. Kansas City has won four of its past 16.
Lawrie broke a 3-3 tie with a leadoff blast to left in the seventh, his fourth. The rookie third baseman also hit an RBI triple in the fourth.
Mariners 9, Indians 2
CLEVELAND (AP) - Felix Hernandez shook off a hard fall on a fielding play to strike out 10, Wily Mo Pena drove in four runs and the Mariners chased Cleveland's Josh Tomlin before the sixth inning in a rout that left the Indians' playoff hopes flickering.
Hernandez (12-11) allowed two runs in six innings as the last-place Mariners took three of four from the fading-fast Indians. Cleveland dropped below .500 for the first time since April 3. The Indians are 6 1/2 games behind AL Central-leading Detroit, which plays at Tampa Bay tonight.
Pena hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning and his two-run double in the fifth knocked out Tomlin (12-7), who didn't get through the fifth for the first time in 37 career starts.
Rays 3, Tigers 2, 10 innings
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - Elliot Johnson had a game-ending fielder's choice in the 10th inning and the Rays beat the Tigers.
Evan Longoria opened the 10th with an infield single off Duane Below (0-2), but was forced out at second on Ben Zobrist's grounder. After Matt Joyce struck out, Casey Kotchman was hit by a pitch and pinch-hitter Sean Rodriguez walked to load the bases.
Johnson then hit a grounder to third baseman Brandon Inge, who threw to second, where second baseman Ramon Santiago was late getting to the bag.
Joel Peralta (3-4) pitched a perfect 10th.
Longoria hit a solo homer for the Rays, who entered 0-5 against Detroit this season. Wade Davis allowed two runs and four hits in nine innings.
Orioles 6, Twins 1
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Mark Reynolds homered to start a five-run fifth inning and the Orioles beat the Twins.
In his first start in 11 days, Jeremy Guthrie pitched seven strong innings for the Orioles, who have won three straight for the first time since winning four in a row from June 6-10. Baltimore has outscored Minnesota 18-3 in the three games.
Justin Morneau had an RBI double for the Twins, who have lost six of seven and 18 of their last 23 overall. Minnesota is 2 1/2 games ahead of last-place Kansas City in the AL Central.
Guthrie (6-16), who has been dealing with some right shoulder soreness, allowed five hits and struck out five.
Kevin Slowey (0-2) allowed five earned runs in 4 2-3 innings.
Angels 8, White Sox 0
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Jered Weaver pitched seven innings of four-hit ball in his first start since signing an $85 million contract extension, and Erick Aybar drove in three runs in the Angels' win over the White Sox.
Torii Hunter homered for the Angels, who have won six straight. Jeff Mathis had a two-run double during a three-run second inning in a dominant finale to their nine-game homestand. Los Angeles' second straight series sweep and Texas' 13-2 loss to Boston trimmed the Angels' deficit in the AL West to just 2 1/2 games before they head into a weekend series at Rangers Ballpark on Friday.
Zach Stewart (1-3) allowed seven hits and seven runs while pitching into the seventh inning for Chicago, which missed a chance to move into second place in the AL Central for the second straight day.