Home run by home run, the surging Boston Red Sox pulled closer to first place in the American League East during a 13-5 victory over the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays and All-Star Scott Kazmir on Monday. The defending World Series champions won for the first time in seven games at Tropicana Field this season, climbing within percentage points (.002) of the Rays for the first time in two months. David Ortiz, who finished with four RBIs, hit a three-run homer in the first inning after Kazmir (11-7) threw nine straight balls to begin the game. Two batters later, Mike Lowell hit a solo shot for a 4-0 lead. Jason Bay and Jason Varitek homered in the fourth off Kazmir. Kevin Youkilis hit his 26th homer, a two-run blast in the fourth, and added a RBI double in the sixth, both off Mitch Talbot. Jacoby Ellsbury also homered off Talbot in the fifth. The Red Sox added seven more runs in the fourth, helping Daisuke Matsuzaka (17-2) become the first Japanese-born pitcher to win 17 games in a season. Hideo Nomo won 16 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers three times (1996, 2002, 2003). Yankees 4, White Sox 2: At New York, Mariano Rivera moved into second place on the career saves list and New York put a small crimp in Chicago's postseason plans. Beginning its final week at Yankee Stadium New York got a two-run homer from Xavier Nady in the second inning and a tiebreaking double by pinch-hitter Wilson Betemit in the seventh. The White Sox, who still lead the AL Central by 1 1/2 games over Minnesota, wasted six strong innings by Mark Buehrle and DeWayne Wise's two-run shot off Alfredo Aceves. Indians 3, Twins 1: At Cleveland, Scott Lewis pitched six shutout innings in his second career start and Cleveland beat Minnesota. Lewis (2-0) has yet to allow a run in 14 innings since being called up from the minors Sept. 7. The left-hander allowed three hits and two walks. Minnesota remained 1 1/2 games behind the Chicago White Sox and will play eight of its final 12 games in the division, where they are 39-25. Royals 3, Mariners 0: At Kansas City, Kyle Davies matched a career high with eight strikeouts in eight innings and combined with closer Joakim Soria on a four-hitter, lifting Kansas City over struggling Seattle. Rangers 11, Tigers 8: At Arlington, rookie Taylor Teagarden had his first career grand slam and a career-high five RBIs, Michael Young hit a tiebreaking single and Texas handed Detroit its fifth straight loss. __
