AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY DAVID ORTIZ (33) TO RIGHT WITH 1 OUT IN THE 8TH OFF DAN MEYER SCORED DUSTIN PEDROIA. CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1, BOSTON 7 DUE UP FOR BOSTON: M LOWELL (.325, 1-FOR-3, BB, RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 7 1 BOSTON 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 3 7 9 0 (TOP 9) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - DAN MEYER BOS - JONATHAN PAPELBON DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: D JOHNSON (.233, 1-FOR-3) M SCUTARO (.260, 0-FOR-3) J HANNAHAN (.281, 0-FOR-2, BB)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON <div class="pre">OAKLAND (1) VS BOSTON (7) - END 8TH - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .291 D Barton 1b 4 1 2 1 0 0 1 .345 N Swisher cf 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .265 J Cust rf 3 0 1 0 1 1 0 .262 M Ellis 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 4 .271 D Johnson dh 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 .233 M Scutaro ss 3 0 0 0 0 3 2 .260 J Hannahan 3b 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 .281 K Suzuki c 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 .255 Totals 30 1 7 1 2 8 13 BATTING: 2B - N Swisher (36, C Schilling). HR - D Barton (3, 1st inning off C Schilling 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - D Barton (7). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ellis 2. GIDP - S Stewart. Team LOB - 7. FIELDING: E - M Scutaro (14, pop up). PB - K Suzuki. DP: 1 (M Scutaro-M Ellis-D Barton). BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Pedroia 2b 5 1 1 0 0 0 3 .314 M Ramirez lf 2 1 1 0 1 0 1 .293 B Moss pr-lf 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .217 b-B Kielty ph-lf 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 .232 D Ortiz dh 3 2 1 2 2 0 0 .321 M Lowell 3b 4 0 1 1 1 0 0 .324 J Drew rf 4 1 3 1 1 1 2 .265 J Varitek c 2 0 0 0 3 1 4 .255 J Ellsbury cf 4 0 1 2 0 0 6 .367 E Hinske 1b 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .206 a-K Youkilis ph-1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 .287 J Lugo ss 3 1 1 0 1 2 2 .240 Totals 31 7 9 7 10 4 24 a-popped out to second for E Hinske in the 5th; b-grounded to second for B Moss in the 6th. BATTING: 2B - M Lowell (36, C Gaudin); J Drew (29, C Gaudin); D Pedroia (36, R Lugo). HR - D Ortiz (33, 8th inning off D Meyer 1 on, 1 Out). SF - B Kielty , J Ellsbury. RBI - M Lowell (111), J Drew (58), J Ellsbury 2 (17), B Kielty (12), D Ortiz 2 (114). 2-out RBI - J Ellsbury. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Varitek 1, K Youkilis 2, J Ellsbury 3. GIDP - B Kielty. Team LOB - 12. FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Lowell-D Pedroia-E Hinske). ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 100 000 00 -- 1 BOSTON - 100 020 13 -- 7 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era C Gaudin 4 3 3 3 7 3 0 4.56 L DiNardo 2 2/3 3 1 1 1 1 0 4.12 R Lugo 2/3 1 2 2 1 0 0 5.67 D Meyer 2/3 2 1 1 1 0 1 8.82 BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era C Schilling 6 6 1 1 0 6 1 3.87 M Delcarmen 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 2.14 E Gagne 2/3 1 0 0 1 0 0 3.96 J Papelbon 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.92 C Gaudin pitched to 4 batters in the 5th. WP - D Meyer. IBB - J Varitek (by L DiNardo). Pitches-strikes: C Gaudin 93-46; L DiNardo 41-23; R Lugo 24-14; D Meyer 27-14; C Schilling 86-62; M Delcarmen 18-11; E Gagne 25-14; J Papelbon 1-1. Ground balls-fly balls: C Gaudin 4-5; L DiNardo 3-4; R Lugo 0-2; D Meyer 0-2; C Schilling 7-5; M Delcarmen 0-1; E Gagne 0-2; J Papelbon 0-1. Batters faced: C Gaudin 23; L DiNardo 11; R Lugo 4; D Meyer 5; C Schilling 23; M Delcarmen 4; E Gagne 4; J Papelbon 1. UMPIRES: HP--Jerry Meals. 1B--Rob Drake. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Gary Darling. Weather: 82 degrees, clear. Wind: 9 mph, out to center.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - PITCHING CHANGE BOS: BRYAN COREY (1-0, 0.00) STARTING THE 9TH CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1, BOSTON 7 DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: D JOHNSON (.233, 1-FOR-3)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: B Corey relieved J Papelbon. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1 BOSTON 7 TOP, 9TH DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: D Johnson (.233, 1-FOR-3)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE DOUBLE BY JACK HANNAHAN SCORED DAN JOHNSON. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J HANNAHAN ON SECOND, M SCUTARO ON THIRD, 0 OUT CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 2 BOSTON 7 TOP, 9TH DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: K SUZUKI (.255, 1-FOR-3)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE SACRIFICE FLY BY KURT SUZUKI SCORED MARCO SCUTARO. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J HANNAHAN ON SECOND, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 3 BOSTON 7 TOP, 9TH DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: S STEWART (.291, 1-FOR-4)</div>
Schilling bests Athletics in Ramirez's return <h3>BOSTON 7, OAKLAND 3</h3>BOSTON (Ticker) -- It didn't quite follow the script of a starplayer making his triumphant return, but the Boston Red Sox areplenty happy getting Manny Ramirez some quality swings beforethe playoffs begin. Ramirez had a hit in his first at-bat and scored a run and CurtSchilling won for the first time in five starts, leading the RedSox to a 7-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday. The win gives Boston (93-64) a temporary 2 1/2-game lead in theAmerican League East over the New York Yankees (90-66), who areplaying the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Ramirez, who along with designated hitter David Ortiz makes upone of the most feared lefthanded-righthanded combinations inthe middle of the Red Sox order, took his usual spot in leftfield after missing nearly a month but was slotted as the No. 2hitter for just the seventh time in his career. The 11-time All-Star showed little rust in the first as he senta 1-2 pitch into right field off Chad Gaudin (11-13) for asingle before scoring two batters later on Mike Lowell's RBIdouble. Ramirez popped out to second in his next at-bat in thesecond and walked in the fifth before being replaced by pinchrunner Brandon Moss on the basepaths. Schilling (9-8) won for the first time since August 24 againstthe Chicago White Sox, going six frames and yielding just onerun and six hits with six strikeouts. The outing continued therighthander's mastery of the A's this season, as he improved to2-0 in three starts with a 1.23 ERA - his best marks against anyopponent this season. Ortiz hit a two-run blast for the Red Sox, who won for the thirdtime in their last four games. Gaudin permitted three runs and three runs over four innings butwalked a career-high seven batters to lose for the fourth timein his last five starts. Rookie Daric Barton homered in his second straight game forOakland, which lost for the seventh time in eight contests.
AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 9 1 BOSTON 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 3 x 7 9 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: OAK - CHAD GAUDIN, LENNY DINARDO (5TH), RUDDY LUGO (7TH), DAN MEYER (8TH) AND KURT SUZUKI BOS - CURT SCHILLING, MANNY DELCARMEN (7TH), ERIC GAGNE (8TH), JONATHAN PAPELBON (8TH), BRYAN COREY (9TH) AND JASON VARITEK HOME RUNS: OAK - DARIC BARTON (3) OFF CURT SCHILLING IN THE 1ST, 0 ON BOS - DAVID ORTIZ (33) OFF DAN MEYER IN THE 8TH, 1 ON</div>
AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 9 1 BOSTON 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 3 x 7 9 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: OAK - CHAD GAUDIN, LENNY DINARDO (5TH), RUDDY LUGO (7TH), DAN MEYER (8TH) AND KURT SUZUKI BOS - CURT SCHILLING, MANNY DELCARMEN (7TH), ERIC GAGNE (8TH), JONATHAN PAPELBON (8TH), BRYAN COREY (9TH) AND JASON VARITEK WP - CURT SCHILLING (9-8) LP - CHAD GAUDIN (11-13) SAVE - NONE HOME RUNS: OAK - DARIC BARTON (3) OFF CURT SCHILLING IN THE 1ST, 0 ON BOS - DAVID ORTIZ (33) OFF DAN MEYER IN THE 8TH, 1 ON TIME: 3:22 ATT: 36,708 PROBABLES: OAK - JOE BLANTON (14-10, 3.84) BOS - JON LESTER (4-0, 4.45)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON <div class="pre">OAKLAND (3) VS BOSTON (7) - FINAL OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 5 0 1 0 0 0 2 .290 D Barton 1b 4 1 2 1 0 0 1 .345 N Swisher cf 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .265 J Cust rf 3 0 1 0 1 1 0 .262 M Ellis 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 4 .271 D Johnson dh 3 1 1 0 1 1 1 .233 M Scutaro ss 4 1 1 0 0 3 2 .262 J Hannahan 3b 3 0 1 1 1 1 1 .287 K Suzuki c 3 0 1 1 0 1 2 .255 Totals 33 3 9 3 3 8 15 BATTING: 2B - N Swisher (36, C Schilling); J Hannahan (12, B Corey). HR - D Barton (3, 1st inning off C Schilling 0 on, 1 Out). SF - K Suzuki. RBI - D Barton (7), J Hannahan (23), K Suzuki (38). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ellis 2. GIDP - S Stewart. Team LOB - 7. FIELDING: E - M Scutaro (14, pop up). PB - K Suzuki. DP: 1 (M Scutaro-M Ellis-D Barton). BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Pedroia 2b 5 1 1 0 0 0 3 .314 M Ramirez lf 2 1 1 0 1 0 1 .293 B Moss pr-lf 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .217 b-B Kielty ph-lf 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 .232 D Ortiz dh 3 2 1 2 2 0 0 .321 M Lowell 3b 4 0 1 1 1 0 0 .324 J Drew rf 4 1 3 1 1 1 2 .265 J Varitek c 2 0 0 0 3 1 4 .255 J Ellsbury cf 4 0 1 2 0 0 6 .367 E Hinske 1b 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .206 a-K Youkilis ph-1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 .287 J Lugo ss 3 1 1 0 1 2 2 .240 Totals 31 7 9 7 10 4 24 a-popped out to second for E Hinske in the 5th; b-grounded to second for B Moss in the 6th. BATTING: 2B - M Lowell (36, C Gaudin); J Drew (29, C Gaudin); D Pedroia (36, R Lugo). HR - D Ortiz (33, 8th inning off D Meyer 1 on, 1 Out). SF - B Kielty , J Ellsbury. RBI - M Lowell (111), J Drew (58), J Ellsbury 2 (17), B Kielty (12), D Ortiz 2 (114). 2-out RBI - J Ellsbury. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Varitek 1, K Youkilis 2, J Ellsbury 3. GIDP - B Kielty. Team LOB - 12. FIELDING: DP: 2 (M Lowell-D Pedroia-E Hinske, D Pedroia-J Lugo). ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 100 000 002 -- 3 BOSTON - 100 020 13x -- 7 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era C Gaudin (L, 11-13) 4 3 3 3 7 3 0 4.56 L DiNardo 2 2/3 3 1 1 1 1 0 4.12 R Lugo 2/3 1 2 2 1 0 0 5.67 D Meyer 2/3 2 1 1 1 0 1 8.82 BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era C Schilling (W, 9-8) 6 6 1 1 0 6 1 3.87 M Delcarmen (H, 11) 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 2.14 E Gagne (H, 4) 2/3 1 0 0 1 0 0 3.96 J Papelbon (H, 2) 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.92 B Corey 1 2 2 2 1 0 0 2.16 C Gaudin pitched to 4 batters in the 5th. WP - D Meyer. IBB - J Varitek (by L DiNardo). Pitches-strikes: C Gaudin 93-46; L DiNardo 41-23; R Lugo 24-14; D Meyer 27-14; C Schilling 86-62; M Delcarmen 18-11; E Gagne 25-14; J Papelbon 1-1; B Corey 22-13. Ground balls-fly balls: C Gaudin 4-5; L DiNardo 3-4; R Lugo 0-2; D Meyer 0-2; C Schilling 7-5; M Delcarmen 0-1; E Gagne 0-2; J Papelbon 0-1; B Corey 0-2. Batters faced: C Gaudin 23; L DiNardo 11; R Lugo 4; D Meyer 5; C Schilling 23; M Delcarmen 4; E Gagne 4; J Papelbon 1; B Corey 5. UMPIRES: HP--Jerry Meals. 1B--Rob Drake. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Gary Darling. T--3:22. Att--36,708. Weather: 82 degrees, clear. Wind: 9 mph, out to center.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OAKLAND (3) AT BOSTON (7) - HOW THEY SCORED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OAKLAND 1ST: S Stewart grounded out to shortstop. D Barton homered to right. N Swisher grounded out to first. J Cust struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, BOSTON 0. BOSTON 1ST: D Pedroia flied out to right. M Ramirez singled to right. D Ortiz walked, M Ramirez to second. M Lowell doubled to deep left, M Ramirez scored, D Ortiz to third. J Drew struck out swinging. J Varitek walked. J Ellsbury grounded out to first. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, BOSTON 1. BOSTON 5TH: M Ramirez walked. B Moss ran for M Ramirez. D Ortiz walked, B Moss to second. M Lowell walked, B Moss to third, D Ortiz to second. J Drew walked, B Moss scored, D Ortiz to third, M Lowell to second. L DiNardo relieved C Gaudin. J Varitek struck out swinging. J Ellsbury hit sacrifice fly to right, D Ortiz scored, M Lowell to third. K Youkilis hit for E Hinske. K Youkilis popped out to second. (2 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, BOSTON 3. BOSTON 7TH: D Ortiz flied out to left. M Lowell flied out to center. J Drew singled to center. J Drew to second on passed ball by K Suzuki. J Varitek intentionally walked. J Ellsbury singled to left, J Drew scored, J Varitek to second. R Lugo relieved L DiNardo. K Youkilis lined out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, BOSTON 4. BOSTON 8TH: J Lugo walked. D Pedroia doubled to right, J Lugo to third. B Kielty hit sacrifice fly to left, J Lugo scored. D Meyer relieved R Lugo. D Ortiz homered to right, D Pedroia scored. M Lowell popped out to shortstop. J Drew singled to center. J Drew to second on wild pitch by D Meyer. J Varitek walked. J Ellsbury flied out to center. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, BOSTON 7. OAKLAND 9TH: B Corey relieved J Papelbon. D Johnson walked. M Scutaro singled to center, D Johnson to second. J Hannahan doubled to deep left, D Johnson scored, M Scutaro to third. K Suzuki hit sacrifice fly to right, M Scutaro scored. S Stewart lined into double play, second to shortstop, J Hannahan doubled off second.(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 3, BOSTON 7.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OAKLAND (3) AT BOSTON (7) - EVENT LOG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oakland Starting Lineups -- S Stewart LF, D Barton 1B, N Swisher CF, J Cust RF, M Ellis 2B, D Johnson DH, M Scutaro SS, J Hannahan 3B, K Suzuki C, C Gaudin RHP. Boston Starting Lineups -- D Pedroia 2B, M Ramirez LF, D Ortiz DH, M Lowell 3B, J Drew RF, J Varitek C, J Ellsbury CF, E Hinske 1B, J Lugo SS, C Schilling RHP. Umpires -- Jerry Meals (HP), Rob Drake (1B), Larry Poncino (2B), Gary Darling (3B). Gametime Weather: 82 degrees, Clear, wind out to center at 9 mph. OAKLAND 1ST: S Stewart grounded out to shortstop. D Barton homered to right. N Swisher grounded out to first. J Cust struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, BOSTON 0. BOSTON 1ST: D Pedroia flied out to right. M Ramirez singled to right. D Ortiz walked, M Ramirez to second. M Lowell doubled to deep left, M Ramirez scored, D Ortiz to third. J Drew struck out swinging. J Varitek walked. J Ellsbury grounded out to first. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, BOSTON 1. OAKLAND 2ND: M Ellis lined out to third. D Johnson singled to center. M Scutaro struck out looking. J Hannahan struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, BOSTON 1. BOSTON 2ND: E Hinske safe at first on error by shortstop M Scutaro. J Lugo struck out swinging. D Pedroia flied out to right. M Ramirez popped out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error) OAKLAND 1, BOSTON 1. OAKLAND 3RD: K Suzuki grounded out to first. S Stewart popped out to second. D Barton singled to center. N Swisher grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, BOSTON 1. BOSTON 3RD: D Ortiz flied out to right. M Lowell grounded out to third. J Drew doubled to deep center. J Varitek grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, BOSTON 1. OAKLAND 4TH: J Cust singled to right. M Ellis struck out looking. D Johnson struck out looking. M Scutaro struck out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, BOSTON 1. BOSTON 4TH: J Ellsbury grounded out to second. E Hinske walked. J Lugo struck out swinging. D Pedroia flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, BOSTON 1. OAKLAND 5TH: J Hannahan popped out to shortstop. K Suzuki reached on infield single to shortstop. S Stewart grounded into double play, third to second to first, K Suzuki out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, BOSTON 1. BOSTON 5TH: M Ramirez walked. B Moss ran for M Ramirez. D Ortiz walked, B Moss to second. M Lowell walked, B Moss to third, D Ortiz to second. J Drew walked, B Moss scored, D Ortiz to third, M Lowell to second. L DiNardo relieved C Gaudin. J Varitek struck out swinging. J Ellsbury hit sacrifice fly to right, D Ortiz scored, M Lowell to third. K Youkilis hit for E Hinske. K Youkilis popped out to second. (2 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, BOSTON 3. OAKLAND 6TH: B Moss in left field. K Youkilis at first base. D Barton flied out to left. N Swisher doubled to deep center. J Cust grounded out to first, N Swisher to third. M Ellis popped out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, BOSTON 3. BOSTON 6TH: J Lugo singled to center. D Pedroia grounded into fielder's choice to third, J Lugo out at second. B Kielty hit for B Moss. B Kielty grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, D Pedroia out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, BOSTON 3. OAKLAND 7TH: B Kielty in left field. M Delcarmen relieved C Schilling. D Johnson flied out to center. M Scutaro struck out looking. J Hannahan walked. K Suzuki struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, BOSTON 3. BOSTON 7TH: D Ortiz flied out to left. M Lowell flied out to center. J Drew singled to center. J Drew to second on passed ball by K Suzuki. J Varitek intentionally walked. J Ellsbury singled to left, J Drew scored, J Varitek to second. R Lugo relieved L DiNardo. K Youkilis lined out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, BOSTON 4. OAKLAND 8TH: E Gagne relieved M Delcarmen. S Stewart singled to left. D Barton flied out to right. N Swisher flied out to center. J Cust walked, S Stewart to second. J Papelbon relieved E Gagne. M Ellis popped out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, BOSTON 4. BOSTON 8TH: J Lugo walked. D Pedroia doubled to right, J Lugo to third. B Kielty hit sacrifice fly to left, J Lugo scored. D Meyer relieved R Lugo. D Ortiz homered to right, D Pedroia scored. M Lowell popped out to shortstop. J Drew singled to center. J Drew to second on wild pitch by D Meyer. J Varitek walked. J Ellsbury flied out to center. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, BOSTON 7. OAKLAND 9TH: B Corey relieved J Papelbon. D Johnson walked. M Scutaro singled to center, D Johnson to second. J Hannahan doubled to deep left, D Johnson scored, M Scutaro to third. K Suzuki hit sacrifice fly to right, M Scutaro scored. S Stewart lined into double play, second to shortstop, J Hannahan doubled off second.(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 3, BOSTON 7.</div>
Schilling bests Athletics in Ramirez's return <h3>BOSTON 7, OAKLAND 3</h3>BOSTON (Ticker) -- It didn't quite follow the script of a starplayer making his triumphant return, but the Boston Red Sox areplenty happy getting Manny Ramirez some quality swings beforethe playoffs begin. Ramirez had a hit in his first at-bat and scored a run and CurtSchilling won for the first time in five starts, leading the RedSox to a 7-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday. The win gives Boston (93-64) a three-game lead in the AmericanLeague East over the New York Yankees (90-67), who lost a 7-6,10-inning contest earlier in the evening against the Tampa BayDevil Rays. It also pulls them into a temporary virtual tiewith the Cleveland Indians (92-63), who is in Seattle to facethe Mariners, for the best record in baseball. "We have been playing good," Red Sox designated hitter DavidOrtiz said. "We had a tough road trip but we are still on top(of the division) and we have to keep it that way." Ramirez, who along with Ortiz makes up one of the most fearedlefthanded-righthanded combinations in the middle of the Red Soxorder, took his usual spot in left field after missing nearly amonth but was slotted as the No. 2 hitter for just the seventhtime in his career. "As we progress, we can get him into the middle of the order andspread our lineup out a little bit," Red Sox manager TerryFrancona said. "Manny starts being that threat behind David -(and with) the way Mike Lowell has swung and then J.D. Drew getshot - all of a sudden, our lineup can look very different." Catcher Jason Varitek added a little levity to Ramirez's spot inthe batting order. "Manny in the two-hole, we have our two-hole hitter back,"Varitek said. The 11-time All-Star showed little rust in the first as he senta 1-2 pitch into right field off Chad Gaudin (11-13) for asingle before scoring two batters later on Mike Lowell's RBIdouble. Ramirez popped out to second in his next at-bat in thesecond and walked in the fifth before being replaced by pinchrunner Brandon Moss on the basepaths. Schilling (9-8) won for the first time since August 24 againstthe Chicago White Sox, going six frames and yielding just onerun and six hits with six strikeouts. The outing continued therighthander's mastery of the A's this season, as he improved to2-0 in three starts with a 1.23 ERA - his best marks against anyopponent this season. "I think he threw a lot of strikes, I thought he commanded hisfastball which opened up some of his offspeed pitches," Franconasaid. "He gave us six good innings, I think more importantly,every time Schill throws we've been getting pretty much aconsistent six (innings) from him. He located, he located inand then he located away, and he expands the plate." "We mixed it up good tonight," Schilling said. "(We justcontinued) to improve with the new stuff, new game plan, newapproach and get better at it. After the first inning, Ithought we did a good job of executing." Ortiz hit a two-run blast for the Red Sox, who won for the thirdtime in their last four games. Gaudin permitted three runs and three runs over four innings butwalked a career-high seven batters to lose for the fourth timein his last five starts. Rookie Daric Barton homered in his second straight game forOakland, which lost for the seventh time in eight contests.
