AL Capsules

BOSTON – David Ortiz hit a game-ending three-run homer, lifting the Boston Red Sox to a 6-3 victory over the Texas Rangers on Thursday night after trailing by three runs.

Jacoby Ellsbury scored the tying run on a fielder’s choice in the seventh inning of his first game after sitting out five straight because of a groin injury.

Jonny Gomes led off the ninth with a double to centre off Michael Kirkman (0-2) and Dustin Pedroia was walked intentionally to set up a potential double play with Ortiz coming to the plate. Ortiz then drove the first pitch he saw from Kirkman for hit his 11th career game-ending home run into an empty Texas bullpen.

Ortiz watched his homer for a few moments before trotting his way toward home where he was met by a swarm of celebrating teammates.

Andrew Bailey (2-0) pitched a scoreless ninth for Boston, which took two of three from Texas.

Ellsbury had a pair of doubles and two singles. Gomes also had four hits and Pedroia hit a two-run double in the third.

TIGERS 5, RAYS 2

DETROIT (AP) — Max Scherzer struck out nine in seven innings to remain unbeaten and Victor Martinez homered and drove in three runs to lift Detroit over the Tampa Bay.

Scherzer (8-0) allowed a run and four hits, walking two. He is the first Detroit pitcher to start the season 8-0 since Jeremy Bonderman in 2007.

Joaquin Benoit allowed a run in the eighth, and Jose Valverde pitched a perfect ninth for his seventh save in nine chances.

Martinez went deep in the fourth for his fourth home run of the year, giving Detroit a 2-0 lead. Miguel Cabrera drove in a run the following inning with a single — his major league-leading 66th RBI.

Roberto Hernandez (3-6) allowed four runs in 5 1-3 innings.

ROYALS 7, TWINS 3

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Lorenzo Cain hit a two-run homer during a four-run eighth inning and Kansas City rallied to win back-to-back games for the first time since May 4-5 thanks to an offence that produced as many runs in the eighth as it had in any of its last 14 games.

The Royals’ seven runs were their most since beating the Astros by the same score on May 21.

Wade Davis allowed three unearned runs before the Royals bullpen took control. Luke Hochevar, Tim Collins (2-1) and Greg Holland combined for four scoreless innings to wrap up the win.

All the runs in the eighth came off Jared Burton (0-3), who allowed Eric Hosmer’s go-ahead single and an RBI double by Billy Butler before serving up Cain’s homer to left field.

ATHLETICS 5, WHITE SOX 4, 10 INNINGS

CHICAGO (AP) — Adam Rosales hit a two-out homer in the 10th inning, one of a season-high four home runs Oakland hit in its victory over Chicago.

Rosales’ fourth homer of the season came off White Sox reliever Matt Thornton (0-2), a 1-1 pitch that was just fair to left field.

Yoenis Cespedes hit two home runs for the second time in three games. Josh Reddick also connected. All four homers were solo shots.

A’s reliever Jerry Blevins got the win (5-0) while Grant Balfour earned his 14th save in as many attempts.

The A’s have won six of seven and 17 of 20. Oakland is 12-2 during a 17-day stretch without a day off.

The White Sox have lost nine of their last 10 games.

ORIOLES 3, ASTROS 1

HOUSTON (AP) — J.J. Hardy got a season-high four hits and Adam Jones added an RBI double, leading Miguel Gonzalez and Baltimore past Houston.

Gonzalez (3-2) yielded five hits and a run in six innings, and matched his season-best with seven strikeouts. He slowed the Astros a day after they hit six home runs in an 11-7 win.

The Orioles won their third straight series by taking two of three from Houston.

Bud Norris (5-5) allowed nine hits while striking out seven in seven innings.