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Ortiz helps Red Sox pull even with Rays in AL East

Sep 16, 2008 - 4:14 AM ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- For the first time in 53 days, the Tampa Bay Rays have company on top of the American League East Division.

David Ortiz was one of six players to hit home runs as the Boston Red Sox crushed the Rays, 13-5, on Monday to pull even in the AL East.

The Red Sox hit four of their homers off Rays All-Star lefthander Scott Kazmir, who lasted only three-plus innings.

The Red Sox (89-61) and Rays (88-60) are tied for the AL East lead, the first time since July 24 the Rays haven't had sole possession of first place.

The loss was Tampa Bay's fourth in 13 games in September, while the Red Sox - who were 5 1/2 games out on August 31 - are 10-4 this month.

"Actually, believe it or not, this is an easier loss to accept," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "When you lose 2-1 or 3-2 on one play, those are the ones you go home and kind of beat yourself up after. A game like this you're pretty much - it's five minutes and it's gone.

"They beat us up. They got on us. It's just one of those nights, you just have to forget about that one as quick as possible."

Through six innings, the Red Sox had as many home runs as the Rays had hits.

"We did a great job early," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "That's what you set out to do. We jumped on Kazmir early, hit some balls out of the ballpark."

In the first, Ortiz belted a three-run shot and Mike Lowell hit a solo homer.

Leading 4-1, Boston buried the Rays with a seven-run fourth. Jason Bay led off the inning with a solo homer and Jason Varitek added a two-run blast. Kevin Youkilis' two-run homer off reliever Mitch Talbot capped the scoring in the inning.

Jacoby Ellsbury also homered off Talbot in the fifth.

"I was expecting a lot more from Kazmir tonight," Maddon said. "He had just pitched up there in Boston and did relatively well. I was kind of surprised myself."

Daisuke Matsuzaka (17-2) was pulled after five innings. He allowed only three hits and one run, walked two and struck out seven.

"We gave ourselves a cushion, which allowed us to take (Matsuzaka) out after five innings," Francona said. "His pitch count was pretty high anyway. It allowed us to use some younger guys in the bullpen."

Kazmir (11-7) allowed a career high-tying nine runs. The four home runs allowed were a career best. He also walked four and struck out two.

"This start just really didn't get it done, plain and simple," Kazmir said. "I just have to go out there and just concentrate on my next start and get myself prepared."

Mike Timlin pitched the eighth inning, for his 1,051st career relief appearance, setting the major league record for most by a righthanded pitcher. The previous mark was 1,050 by Kent Tekulve.

"It means a lot to me," Timlin said. "I've been looking forward to it all year long. Kent was one of my heroes when I was growing up. I met him 18 or 19 years ago. I've always looked up to him."

Tampa Bay scored its five runs courtesy of Akinori Iwamura's solo homer in the third and two-run home runs from Justin Ruggiano and Dan Johnson in the six and seventh.