Ortiz to fore as Indians down Red Sox 3-2

BIG HIT: David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox hits a two-run home run during the sixth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on Monday in Cleveland, Ohio. (AFP)

CLEVELAND: David Ortiz hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in a three-run sixth inning, and the Boston Red Sox defeated the Cleveland Indians 3-2 on Monday to extend their winning streak to four.

Ortiz’s 27th home run of his farewell season was the 530th of his big league career. Ortiz homered in all three games the Red Sox played in Cleveland this season.

One out later, Jackie Bradley Jr. also homered off Josh Tomlin (11-6), who has given up a major league-leading 29 home runs this season.

Drew Pomeranz (1-2) allowed two runs in 7 2/3 innings to win for the first time since he was acquired from San Diego on July 14. He had been 0-2 in five starts for the Red Sox.

Selected by Cleveland with the fifth overall pick in the 2011 amateur draft, Pomeranz gave up Rajai Davis’ leadoff homer in the fourth and RBI double in the eighth.

Craig Kimbrel escaped a ninth-inning jam for his 20th save in 22 chances.


Yankees 1 Blue Jays 0: In New York, Chad Green struck out 11 in six dominant innings, Aaron Judge delivered again with an RBI double and Dellin Betances escaped a big ninth-inning jam, leading New York over Toronto.

Betances got major league RBI leader Edwin Encarnacion to ground into a game-ending, around-the-horn double play with runners at the corners.

The Yankees won for the fifth time in six games, taking the first 1-0 decision between the teams since 2005. They dropped Toronto percentage points out of first place in the AL East and pulled within 5 1/2 games of new division leader Baltimore.

Promoted earlier in the day from Triple-A for his fifth stint of the season with the Yankees, Green (2-2) was in complete control. He gave up two hits, walked none and outpitched R.A. Dickey (8-13).


Royals 3 Tigers 1: In Detroit, an Kennedy pitched effectively into the seventh inning to win for the first time since June 26 as Kansas City beat Detroit.

The Tigers lost Miguel Cabrera after four innings to a strained left biceps. Cabrera appeared to injure himself in a first-inning collision with Cheslor Cuthbert at first base, but batted twice before leaving the game.

Detroit said the slugger is day to day.

Rangers 5 Athletics 2: In Arlington, Texas, Adrian Beltre hit a grand slam not long after Texas ended a 24-inning scoreless streak, and Martin Perez earned his first win since late June to lead the Rangers over Oakland.

Beltre’s 100th home run at Globe Life Park came against former teammate Ross Detwiler (1-1) in the fifth with Texas trailing 2-1. His 10th career slam came three batters after Shin-Soo Choo broke his left forearm when he was hit by a pitch.

The AL West-leading Rangers were coming off consecutive shutout losses at home to Detroit.

Perez (8-8) gave up two runs — one earned — in seven innings. He had gone 0-4 over his past eight starts.


Marlins 6, Reds 3: At Cincinnati, Chris Kohnson drove in two runs with a homer and a double, former reliever David Phelps pitched into the sixth inning in his third start of the season and Miami won the opener of its four-game series against Cincinnati.

Marcell Ozuna also homered and Dee Gordon beat Joey Votto’s high toss to pitcher Blake Wood covering first base for a bases-loaded, two-run infield single. The wild card-contending Marlins have won two straight after a three-game skid. Both wins have come since Giancarlo Stanton was lost Saturday for what is expected to be at least six weeks with a groin injury.

Phelps (6-6) struck out a season-high eight while allowing two runs in 5 1/3 innings. Fernando Rodney got three outs for his 21st save in 23 tries.
Rays 8 Padres 2: In St. Petersburg, Florida, Drew Smyly allowed just a solo homer over seven innings of one-hit ball, and Tampa Bay got home runs from Logan Forsythe and Kevin Kiermaier in its victory over San Diego.

Alexei Ramirez hit his fifth homer and Derek Norris walked twice — those were the only baserunners against Smyly (5-11).

Brad Boxberger and Kevin Jepsen completed the three-hitter, with Jepsen allowing a single to Wil Myers and a homer to Yangervis Solarte in the ninth.

Forsythe hit his fifth homer in his last 13 games off Luis Perdomo (5-7). Kiermaier had a three-run drive in a five-run eighth that made it 8-1. He had three hits and two stolen bases.