Associated Press
BOSTON ó David Ortiz broke a career-high 149 at-bat homerless drought in a six-run fifth inning, Brad Penny pitched his best game of the season and the Boston Red Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-3 on Wednesday night.
Jason Varitek, Jason Bay and Mike Lowell also homered in the fifth off rookie left-hander Brett Cecil (2-1), but Ortiz’s shot just to the left of straightaway center drew the loudest roar from fans who waited a long time since his last homer Sept. 22.
Boston center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury tied a major league record with 12 putouts by an outfielder in a nine-inning game.
Yankees 11, Orioles 4
NEW YORK ó Nick Swisher hit the first of three consecutive homers that sent Phil Hughes and New York to its eighth straight victory.
Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera also hit solo shots to right field in the second inning against starter Jeremy Guthrie (3-4) ó all with two strikes.
Tigers 5, Rangers 3
DETROIT ó Justin Verlander allowed three hits in six innings and Detroit, despite hitting into a triple play, won its fifth straight.
Gerald Laird lined into the triple play, Texas’ first since 2002, in the fourth.
Athletics 7, Rays 6
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. ó Brett Anderson pitched into the seventh inning to pick up his first major league win, and Orlando Cabrera had two RBIs.
White Sox 7, Twins 4
CHICAGO ó Jermaine Dye’s grand slam capped a seven-run fourth inning, and John Danks allowed five hits and two earned runs over 52/3 innings for Chicago.
Indians 6, Royals 5
KANSAS CITY, Mo. ó Mark DeRosa had three hits and drove in the tiebreaking run in the eighth.
Mariners 1, Angels 0
SEATTLE ó Fill-in starter Chris Jakubauskas held the Angels to wwo hits in six innings.