Red Sox 12, Giants 1
Will Middlebrooks and Stephen Drew both homered and Felix Doubront tossed eight solid innings as visiting Boston easily took the rubber game of a three-game set.
Doubront (9-6) allowed a run and five hits while striking out three. He retired 14 of 15 at one point to rebound from a pair of rocky outings and improve to 5-1 lifetime in interleague play.
Middlebrooks continued his resurgence since being recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket on Aug. 10 with two-run blast off Barry Zito in the second that gave the Red Sox all the runs they would need. Drew followed a two-run single by Jarrod Saltalamacchia in the seventh with a three-run blast as Boston moved one game ahead of Tampa Bay in the race for first place in the American League East.
Making his first start since July 30, Zito (4-9) lasted just 3 2/3 innings. The veteran lefty gave up six runs and seven hits to see his ERA soar to 5.52 in 15 career starts against Boston.
Joaquin Arias provided the only offense for San Francisco with a solo homer in the second. Jonny Gomes contributed a two-run single and Dustin Pedroia and Shane Victorina both hit RBI doubles as part of Boston's 12-hit attack.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Middlebrooks is 15-for-34 in 11 games since being recalled. He also appeared at second base for the first time in 559 games as a professional, giving Pedroia a rest over the final three innings. ... Mike Napoli replaced David Ortiz (back tightness) at first base in the fifth inning for Boston. Napoli has not started a game since Friday due to a sore foot. ... The Red Sox have a day off before opening a big three-game set at the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday. The Giants welcome Pittsburgh to AT&T Park on Thursday for the first of four.