Red Sox 11, Tigers 1
BOSTON -- David Ortiz, who earlier celebrated the Hall of Fame induction of Dominican countryman Pedro Martinez, continued his country's proud day Sunday night.
The designated hitter, who may well join Martinez and Juan Marichal as Dominicans in the Hall, drove in a career-high seven runs with two three-run homers and an RBI single in a four-hit night that led the Boston Red Sox to an 11-1 rout of the struggling Detroit Tigers.
"Pedro was special," Ortiz, who joined Martinez in ending Boston's 86-year title drought in 2004, said before the game. "Pedro ... as much as we know about Pedro, that's how he was. Pedro (was an) unbelievable competitor. Best stuff I've ever seen in a pitcher. And the most important thing, an incredible human being."
Boston rookie left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, rebounding from a dreadful performance against the Angels in Anaheim on July 20, pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, allowing a long home run to third baseman Nick Castellanos and two singles. Relievers Robbie Ross Jr. and Alexi Ogando completed the three-hitter.
Rodriguez improved to 6-3 with a 4.26 ERA overall but is a major-league-best 5-0 with a 1.14 in night games.
The last-place Red Sox stroked a season-high 20 hits to take the deciding game of the three-game series.
Ortiz snapped a 1-1 tie with a first three-run shot off Shane Greene (4-8) in a four-run fifth inning. The Red Sox then scored three in the sixth, one driven in by Ortiz.
In the seventh, Ortiz hit a three-run homer off reliever Neftali Feliz that almost hit the ESPN announcing crew working the game from atop the Green Monster. It was the 48th multi-homer of Ortiz's career, but his first this season. He has 19 homers on the year.
Shortstop Xander Bogaerts had four hits and first baseman Mike Napoli drove in two runs for Boston.
Castellanos' 10th homer of the year was his second in as many days.
The loss kept the Tigers (48-50) from getting back to the .500 mark.
Boston second baseman Brock Holt went 2-for-3 but injured his left knee rounding first on a first-inning single. He stayed in the game through the fifth inning before leaving.
The Red Sox (44-55) had two runners in both the first and second innings and one in the third before breaking through in the fourth. After Napoli battled for a 3-2 walk, rookie catcher Blake Swihart, guilty of four passed balls with knuckleballer Steven Wright pitching Saturday, ripped a two-out double down the right field line to score left fielder Hanley Ramirez, who had singled.
The lead last only two pitches into the fifth, when Castellanos, who hit a long fly to center in the second inning, clobbered a 1-0 pitch to right-center to make it 1-1.
Holt and Bogaerts opened the bottom of the fifth with sharp singles to center, the seventh and eighth hits off Greene, and Ortiz teed off on an 0-1 pitch to dead right.
Ramirez then doubled and took third on a sacrifice by right fielder Alejandro De Aza. Third baseman Pablo Sandoval was intentionally walked, and Napoli dropped a fly ball inside the right field line for an RBI ground-rule double.
That was it for Greene, who started the season by winning his first three starts and allowing one run in 23 innings but has been to the minors since then.
Left-hander Kyle Ryan, recalled earlier in the day, came on and snuffed out further trouble before giving up three runs in the sixth.
NOTES: Bo McKinnis, the agent for potential free agent LHP David Price, told MLB Radio that he talked contract with the Tigers during the season. However, he didn't sound optimistic about his client staying with the club and is unsure what Detroit will do with Price by Friday's non-waiver trade deadline. ... The Tigers recalled LHP Kyle Ryan from Triple-A Toledo and demoted INF Marc Krauss. ... The Red Sox selected the contract of INF Jemile Weeks from Triple-A Pawtucket and optioned RHP Noe Ramirez. ... The Red Sox broadcast Pedro Martinez's Hall of Fame speech for the fans before the game and will retire his No. 45 prior to Tuesday night's game. ... RHP Anibal Sanchez, 7-0 in his past eight starts, opens the Tigers' three-game series at Tampa Bay on Monday. ... The Red Sox send RHP Joe Kelly out Monday in the opener of a four-game set with the White Sox.