Ortiz wins another one for the Red Sox

David Ortiz knows how to send a crowd home happy. Big Papi had a game-ending hit for the Boston Red Sox for the second time in three days, and fifth time this season. The latest was a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning Monday night that gave the Red Sox a 9-8 victory over the Cleveland Indians.

"The whole inning, we're just thinking, 'Let's just get David to the plate,'" manager Terry Francona said.

Good thinking.

Ortiz, who also hit a solo homer, got his 12th game-ending hit in four seasons with Boston, most in baseball during that span. He leads the majors with 37 home runs and 105 RBIs, and he tied a club record with 14 homers in a month.

"You've got to do what you've got to do," Ortiz said. "Like I said before, the worst thing that can happen is the pitcher getting you out."

Fausto Carmona (1-5) started the ninth for Cleveland with a two-run lead mostly built on two homers and five RBIs by Casey Blake.

Alex Cora singled and Kevin Youkilis walked before Mark Loretta popped up for the first out, bringing up Ortiz. The count went 2-0, and the third pitch went into the stands in straightaway center field.

"The guy had to make a pitch at the time or get the bases loaded and having a hitter like Manny" coming up, Ortiz said, referring to Manny Ramirez, who hit his 29th homer. "I just go out there with the same approach that I always go. See a pitch and hit it."

Carmona was in because the Indians traded closer Bob Wickman to Atlanta on July 20.

"He's a strong-minded kid and he's going to figure it out," Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said. "Obviously, that is a very special hitter that came up there."

In other AL games, it was: Seattle 10, Baltimore 5; Tampa Bay 7, Detroit 3; Minnesota 15, Texas 2; Chicago 8, Kansas City 4; and Oakland 3, Los Angeles 1.

Kyle Snyder (3-2) got the win with 4 1-3 innings of one-hit relief after replacing David Wells, who allowed eight runs in first start since hurting his right knee two months ago.

"I've never pitched in a game that's made me feel this way," said Snyder, who had been scheduled to start Tuesday night. "All I was trying to do was give us an opportunity to come back and win this game at the tail end and I'll be darned if David Ortiz didn't step up to the plate and do it again."

Blake hit a leadoff homer in the second, a sacrifice fly in the third and a three-run homer in the fifth that put Cleveland ahead 8-6. Blake has 14 homers and three two-homer games this season.

He was in right field when Ortiz ended the game.

"You're thinking, he can't do it again," Blake said. "The guy's unbelievable."

The Red Sox, who increased their lead over the idle New York Yankees to one game in the AL East, lost catcher Jason Varitek to a twisted left knee in the third.

"Tek fought me on it a little bit," said Francona, who gave no indication about how much time Varitek might miss. "I'm just trying to be cautious."

Mariners 10, Orioles 5

At Baltimore, Richie Sexson and Kenji Johjima homered, Yuniesky Betancourt and Jose Lopez each had three hits for Seattle, which won for the seventh time in nine games.

The Mariners trailed 3-0 before scoring all their runs in the final four innings. Sexson and Johjima connected in a four-run eighth that made it 9-4.

Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis homered for the Orioles, who have lost three of four. Adam Loewen (1-3) allowed seven hits and four earned runs in six-plus innings.

Devil Rays 7, Tigers 3

At St. Petersburg, Fla., Casey Fossum (5-4) allowed one run and six hits over seven innings and matched his career high with 10 strikeouts. Damon Hollins and Travis Lee hit two-run homers for Tampa Bay.

Kenny Rogers (11-5) allowed six runs, five hits and four walks over five-plus innings.

Twins 15, Rangers 2

At Minneapolis, Torii Hunter had a homer and four RBIs in his return from the disabled list for the Twins. Josh Rabe had a homer and three RBIs and Nick Punto had four hits, four runs and three RBIs to back Carlos Silva (7-9), who gave up one run and six hits in seven innings.

Rookie John Rheinecker (4-5) gave up eight runs and nine hits in 1 2-3 innings, his shortest outing this season.

White Sox 8, Royals 4

At Kansas City, Jermaine Dye, Joe Crede and Alex Cintron homered to lead Chicago.

Dye hit a solo shot, his 29th, in the third inning. Dye has hit nine home runs in his last 28 games and is four shy of his career-best 33 in 2000, when he played for the Royals.

Jose Contreras (10-3), who had lost his previous three starts after having his 17-game winning snapped on July 14, went seven innings, giving up three earned and nine hits.

Runelvys Hernandez (2-6) went three innings, giving up eight runs and eight hits.

Athletics 3, Angels 1

At Anaheim, Dan Haren scattered eight hits in a complete game, Jay Payton hit a two-run homer and Milton Bradley homered for the second straight game to lead Oakland.

Haren (8-9) overcame a solo homer by Juan Rivera and went the distance for the fifth time in 76 career starts.

Ervin Santana (11-5) allowed three runs and eight hits over eight innings, but lost his second consecutive start after going 7-0 in his previous nine outings.