The Boston Red Sox squandered a 10-0 first inning lead before rallying to edge a wild 19-17 victory over the Texas Rangers on Tuesday. David Ortiz belted a pair of three-run homers in the 10-run first inning that gave Boston a huge early advantage before the Rangers fought back to lead 16-14 in the seventh inning at Fenway Park. The Red Sox responded with four more runs in the bottom of the eighth to finally secure victory. The teams combined for 37 hits, 20 of them by the Rangers, who scored eight runs in the fifth and five more in the sixth to take the lead for the first time at 15-14. The teams tied the AL record for most combined runs in a game and Ortiz tied a league record for most RBI in an inning with six on a bizarre night on many fronts. In other games it was: Chicago White Sox 9, Kansas City 0; Celeveland 7, Baltimore 5; Toronto 6, Detroit 4; NY Yankees 9, Minnesota 6 (12 innings); LA Angeles 7, Seattle 3; Oakland 2, Tampa Bay 1. Mets hold off Nationals The New York Mets snapped an eighth-inning tie when Damion Easley was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and went on to beat the Washington Nationals 4-3 in the National League on Tuesday. Easley was hit by Saul Rivera (3-5) to make it 4-3, and a beleaguered bullpen that has struggled badly without injured closer Billy Wagner held the lead. Six times this season the bullpen has cost Johan Santana (10-7) a potential win – with five of the collapses coming in the ninth inning. Santana went seven solid innings, allowing three runs and eight hits. Reds 5, Pirates 1: At Pittsburgh, Edinson Volquez pitched into the seventh inning to snap a post All-Star break slump for Cincinnati. Brandon Phillips and Javier Valentin homered to help the Reds end a season-worst six-game losing streak. Corey Patterson had two hits and two RBIs. Volquez (14-5) allowed one run and five hits in 6 2-3 innings. Jeff Karstens (2-1) took his first loss since being acquired from the Yankees. Astros 12, Giants 4: At Houston, Lance Berkman hit a grand slam in an eight-run seventh for Houston, two innings after San Francisco ace pitcher Tim Lincecum left the game with an injured knee. Marlins 4, Cardinals 3: At Miami, Hanley Ramirez hit a three-run homer and Florida held St. Louis scoreless over the last eight innings. Diamondbacks 4, Rockies 2: At Denver, Randy Johnson pitched six solid innings and singled in a run and Adam Dunn had a double in his Arizona debut. Dodgers 4, Phillies 3: At Los Angeles, Andre Ethier singled home the winning run with one out in the bottom of ninth as Los Angeles edged Philadelphia. Brewers 5, Padres 2: At San Diego, Prince Fielder hit a three-run homer and Jeff Suppan pitched eight strong innings to lead Milwaukee past San Diego for its seventh straight victory.
