DETROIT — David Ortiz hit a two-run home run while Hanley Ramirez and Xander Bogaerts each smacked a two-run double Friday night to pace the Boston Red Sox to a 7-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers.
Boston right-hander Joe Kelly (4-6) struck out seven in 5 1/3 innings with six coming in the first two innings off a sharp slider. He was tagged for seven hits and walked two.
Left-hander Robbie Ross Jr. got the last two outs of the sixth, right-hander Jean Machi got the seventh and right-hander Justin Masterson the eighth. Masterson had to be bailed out by closer Koji Uehara after he loaded the bases with one out in the ninth. Uehara got his 25th save with two quick outs.
Rookie lefty Daniel Norris (2-2), who gave up four hits in 7 1/3 innings in his Detroit debut Sunday, was cuffed about for nine hits in 3 1/3 innings of his second start. Norris didn’t walk anybody but went to five full counts in the first inning and seven overall while throwing 83 pitches.
Boston tacked on two runs for a 7-2 lead when shortstop Bogaerts hit a two-out, two-run double.
There was a dustup in the Detroit dugout following the top of the sixth when shortstop Jose Iglesias shoved James McCann in the chest after the rookie catcher seemed to point out to the middle of the infield and said something to the shortstop.
McCann might have been referring to a two-out ground single up the middle by Boston right fielder Rusney Castillo that some felt Iglesias gave up on too early. Iglesias was quickly restrained by teammates.
The Tigers got two runs in the fourth when right fielder J.D. Martinez hit his 30th home run, a two-run shot near the flag pole in deep left-center. That reduced the deficit to 5-2.
The Red Sox had taken a 5-0 lead in the top of the fourth when a run scored on Castillo fielder’s choice.
Designated hitter Ortiz gave Boston a 4-0 lead by slamming his 22nd home run of the season in the third inning, hitting a flat breaking ball from Norris after Castillo had singled to right.
Boston took a 2-0 lead in the first on a two-run first-inning double by Ramirez. The two-out hit followed a pair of one-out singles.
NOTES: New Detroit general manager Al Avila announced several promotions Friday, including elevating David Chadd to assistant general manager. Scott Bream was boosted to player personnel vice president. … Boston 1B Mike Napoli was a late scratch from Boston’s starting lineup Friday night, a move made just prior to game time, and then traded to the Texas Rangers. 3B Pablo Sandoval replaced him in the sixth spot in the order with the seventh hitter, Travis Shaw, switching from third to first. Napoli had to clear waivers. … 3B Nick Castellanos of Detroit was in the starting lineup despite having his right handed taped up. “It’s just tender,” he said. “The tape restricts some movement, makes it feel better.”
Blue Jays 2, Yankees 1
NEW YORK — Right fielder Jose Bautista hit a tiebreaking home run with one out in the top of the 10th inning and the Toronto Blue Jays extended their winning streak to six games with a 2-1 victory over the New York Yankees Friday night.
Bautista gave Toronto its ninth win in 10 games and helped the Blue Jays moved to within 3 1/2 games of the Yankees when he drove a 2-2 fastball from Branden Pinder (0-1) into the left-field seats.
It was Bautista’s 25th home run and fourth in his last 11 games.
Bautista’s home run came after Toronto left the bases loaded in the seventh and the potential go-ahead run on third in the ninth.
Brett Cecil (3-4) recorded an inning-ending double play against third baseman Chase Headley and picked up the win. Roberto Osuna pitched a hitless 10th for his ninth save in 10 opportunities.
Before Bautista’s home run, the two highest-scoring teams in baseball opened the first of 13 meetings over the final eight weeks by engaging in a pitching duel and trading solo home runs.
Knuckleballer R.A Dickey gave up a second-inning solo home run to first baseman Mark Teixeira among six hits in seven innings. New York right-hander Nathan Eovaldi allowed a first-inning home run to third baseman Josh Donaldson among five hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Toronto took a 1-0 lead 13 pitches into the game when Donaldson drove a 2-2 fastball into the right field seats. After the home run, the Blue Jays had runners at second and third, but Eovaldi retired first baseman Justin Smoak on a flyout to left and catcher Russell Martin on a ground ball in front of the mound.
The Yankees tied it with a controversial home run by Teixeira to lead off the second.
Teixeira hit a 0-1 pitch to left field and replays showed a fan reached over just as the ball was coming back into play. Teixeira stayed at second during an umpires review. After nearly four minutes, he was awarded a home run.