G145: Red Sox 9, Mariners 6

Red Sox  - 021 100 032 - 9 10  1
Mariners - 101 020 101 - 6 12  0

David Ortiz's three-run homer gave the Red Sox the lead in the eighth inning and RBI from Ryan Kalish and Josh Reddick added some insurance in the ninth.

Jed Lowrie hit two home runs -- a two-run shot in the second and a solo blast to begin the fourth. Adrian Beltre singled twice and doubled and Victor Martinez had two singles. His second hit came after two blown calls by home plate umpire Kerwin Danley*. Brandon League should have struck Martinez out to end the eighth inning with Seattle up 5-4, but strikes 2 and 3 were instead balls 2 and 3 -- and Martinez then blooped a hit to left. Beltre smoked a single to left and Flo cranked a 1-0 pitch to deep right-center for his 30th dong of the year.

* - Danley and 3B ump CB Bucknor screwed Matsuzaka (6-8-5-4-3, 105) on several pitches in the fifth and sixth innings, though those shitty calls did not lead to any additional runs. ... 2B ump Dana DeMuth botched a call in the fifth, calling Chone Figgins out on a steal attempt when he had beaten the throw. The score was 4-4 and Dice's next pitch was hammered for a double. ... And I have no doubt Doug Eddings blew a few calls at 1B, but nothing springs immediately to mind.

It was Ortiz's sixth season with 30+ homers for the Sox, tying Manny Ramirez for second place in franchise history. Ted Williams tops the list with eight seasons.

Ichiro Suzuki singled twice, doubled, walked, stole two bases, drove in one run, and scored four of the Mariners' six runs. Figgins singled four times and Franklin Gutierrez had three hits, including two doubles.

The Yankees beat the Rays 8-7 in 10 innings to re-take first place in the East. ... Boston is now 7 GB in the East and 6.5 GB Tampa Bay in the WC. They have shaved two games off the WC standings in three days.

Daisuke Matsuzaka / Luke French

Scutaro, 2B
McDonald, RF
Martinez, 1B
Beltre, 3B
Ortiz, DH
Lowrie, SS
Varitek, C
Hall, LF
Kalish, CF

Jason Varitek makes his first start since June 30. ... Matsuzaka celebrated his 30th birthday yesterday.

Up top: Yankees/Rays (Nova/Garza), 7 PM

September 14:

1935 - The Cubs beat the Dodgers 18-14 for their 11th straight win. The game also ends Chicago's string of 10 straight games without using a relief pitcher.

1990 - Ken Griffey, Sr. and Ken Griffey, Jr. hit back-to-back home runs in the top of the first inning of a 7-5 loss to the Angels. They were the first father/son to play on the same team. Tim Raines Sr. and Tim Raines Jr. were both in the Orioles' starting lineup for two games in October 2001.

1998 - The Royals score in all eight of their innings at bat -- 113 113 24x -- as they rout Oakland 16-6. .. And in Detroit: White Sox 17, Tigers 16 (12).