AL | Red Sox continue mastery of Yanks

NEW YORK - David Ortiz, Alex Cora and Manny Ramirez homered for Boston, Julian Tavarez got his first win of the season, and the Boston Red Sox beat the New York Yankees, 7-4, yesterday, sending them to their eighth loss in nine games.

Boston is 5-1 against New York, and Yankees owner George Steinbrenner is said to be angry about his team's slow start, possibly disappointed enough that manager Joe Torre's job may be in jeopardy.

Tavarez (1-2) and four relievers held New York to seven hits, with Jonathan Papelbon pitching the ninth for his eighth save in eight chances.

New York's only runs came on a three-run homer in the third by Doug Mientkiewicz and a shot in the eighth by Derek Jeter that extended his hitting streak to 17 games.

After the game, Jeter, the Yankees captain, defended Torre.

"There shouldn't be questions," he said. "He's in no way responsible. He's putting the best guys on the field. I'm sure people aren't happy; we're not happy. But we've got five months [to go]. It's common sense. He's not playing, that's the bottom line.

"You should never talk about his job.

"It's unfair, and it should stop."

Indians 6, Orioles 1

CLEVELAND - Fausto Carmona pitched into the ninth inning and Casey Blake homered to help Cleveland beat Baltimore.

The win came less than 24 hours after the Indians officially protested a 7-4 loss that ended their six-game winning streak when a run was added to the Orioles' total three innings after it had been waved off by the umpires.

Carmona (2-1) gave up six hits, walked two and struck out one in a career-best 81/3 innings.

Jaret Wright (0-3) gave up three runs and four hits in three innings for the Orioles. He was activated from the disabled list before the game.

It was Wright's first career appearance against the Indians, who drafted him in the first round in 1994.

Tigers 4, Twins 3

DETROIT - Brandon Inge's leadoff homer in the ninth inning gave Detroit a victory over Minnesota.

Inge entered the game hitting .122, but had three hits, including the deciding homer off Jesse Crain (1-2).

Todd Jones (1-1), the third Tigers pitcher, got the win with a perfect ninth inning.

Johan Santana gave up three runs and eight hits in six innings for Minnesota.

Blue Jays 7, Rangers 1

TORONTO - Alex Rios homered, Tomo Ohka pitched seven innings to win his second straight start, and Toronto trounced Texas.

Aaron Hill went 3 for 4 and drove in two runs for Toronto. He has 17 RBIs this season, tying him with Vernon Wells for the team lead.

Ian Kinsler hit a two-run homer in the ninth for his ninth of the season, tying the Rangers team record for home runs in April.

Angels 5, White Sox 2

CHICAGO - Maicer Izturis and Vladimir Guerrero hit back-to-back homers, and Kelvim Escobar allowed four hits over 72/3 innings to lead Los Angeles past Chicago.

Former Angel Darin Erstad hit a two-run homer in the third, but Escobar (2-1) held the White Sox in check after that.

Mariners 5, Royals 1

SEATTLE - Cha Seung Baek took a no-hit bid into the sixth, and Willie Bloomquist's two-out, two-run double in the seventh broke a 1-1 tie in Seattle's win over Kansas City.

Baek overpowered the Royals for six innings, and needed to as Seattle managed just four hits off Kansas City starter Brian Bannister (0-1). Mark Grudzielanek got the Royals' first hit on a line drive single to center with two out in the sixth.

Brandon Morrow (2-0) got the final two outs of the seventh and pitched a perfect eighth.

Devil Rays 5, A's 3

OAKLAND, Calif. - Rocco Baldelli, who returned to Tampa Bay's lineup after missing two games with a bruised right knee, combined with Elijah Dukes for back-to-back home runs in the Devil Rays' victory over Oakland.