NEW YORK, 27 May 2004 — Mark Bellhorn homered and drove in five runs to support Curt Schilling’s solid pitching as the Red Sox mauled the Oakland Athletics 12-2 in American League play in Boston on Tuesday.

It was the first meeting between the teams since last season’s playoffs, but provided none of the drama that the five-game Boston win did in last year’s Divisional Series, after the Red Sox trailed 2-0. The Red Sox pounded out 19 hits, including four by David Ortiz, to set a season high in both runs and hits while winning their fourth straight game.

Johnny Damon, Jason Varitek and Bellhorn all had three hits for the Red Sox, while Manny Ramirez homered and drove in three runs.

Before the game the Red Sox learned that they would be without AL batting champion Bill Mueller, who will miss about six weeks after knee surgery.

Schilling (6-3) allowed two runs on nine hits over seven innings, striking out five and walking none.

Tim Hudson (5-2) had his shortest outing of the season, lasting just four innings. He allowed five runs on nine hits with four walks.

Hudson left the game trailing 5-0 and the Red Sox scored four more runs to take a 9-0 lead before the A’s got on the scoreboard.

In other games, Alex Rodriguez hit a three-run homer and Jon Lieber pitched seven solid innings to lead the New York Yankees to an 11-3 rout over the Baltimore Orioles.

Enrique Wilson drove in four runs for the Yankees, who handed the Orioles their fifth straight loss. Julio Lugo homered and drove in four runs as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays notched their fifth straight victory, a 6-1 win over the Minnesota Twins. Victor Zambrano (4-4) allowed one run on five hits over seven innings, striking out eight and walking two. Rocco Baldelli had an RBI double for the Devil Rays.

Kyle Lohse (1-4) allowed four runs on seven hits over six innings. Justin Morneau homered for the Twins.

In Cleveland, Raul Ibanez hit a run-scoring single with two outs in the 12th inning, giving the Seattle Mariners a 5-4 win over the Indians. Mike Myers (2-1) pitched a perfect 11th for the win while Eddie Guardado pitched the 12th for his seventh save.

John Olerud had three hits for Seattle.

Victor Martinez drove in two runs and Casey Blake homered for the Indians, losers of a season-high six straight games. Jose Jimenez (0-3) took the loss.

Ken Harvey homered and had three hits, leading the Kansas City Royals past the Detroit Tigers 4-3.

Jason Grimsley (2-1) got one out in relief for the win. Jeremy Affeldt got the last four outs for his first save, as Detroit’s tying run in the ninth inning was nullified on an interference call.

Mike Maroth (4-3) allowed three runs on nine hits over seven innings. Alex Sanchez had three hits and drove in a run for Detroit.

Kenny Rogers pitched six strong innings, leading the Texas Rangers to a 7-4 win over the Chicago White Sox. Rogers (7-2) allowed two runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and one walk to move into a tie for the major league lead in wins.

Francisco Cordero pitched the ninth for his 15th save while Mark Teixeira and Herbert Perry homered for Texas.