Jonathan Papelbon pitched Boston out of an eighth-inning jam, and Jason Bay, J.D. Drew and Kevin Youkilis homered Tuesday to help the Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 8-4 in the opener of a series crucial to the American League wild-card race. Papelbon entered with two runs in and the bases loaded with no outs and shut down the AL champions in the eighth with help from a diving catch by center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, who snared Jason Bartlett's sinking liner before scrambling to his feet to keep a runner from tagging up at third. Papelbon pitched a perfect ninth for his 33rd save, fifth of more than one inning. Jon Lester (11-7) allowed two runs and seven hits, walked one and struck out nine in six innings. Andy Sonnanstine (6-8) returned from a two-month stint in the minor leagues to fill the opening in Tampa Bay's rotation created by the trade that sent Scott Kazmir to the Los Angeles Angels. He gave up homers to Bay and Drew. Yankees 9, Orioles 6: At Baltimore, Jorge Posada homered twice, and Nick Swisher and Eric Hinske hit successive drives in a three-run seventh inning that carried New York past Baltimore for its fifth straight win. The victory put New York 36 games over .500 (84-48). The AL East leaders remained 6-1/2 games ahead of second-place Boston. Mariners 2, Angels 1: At Seattle, Jose Lopez his a two-out double in the seventh inning as Seattle beat the Angeles with to yet another one-run victory. Rangers 5, Blue Jays 2, 1st game; Rangers 5, Blue Jays 2, 2nd game: At Arlington, Texas, Josh Hamilton hit two home runs and Brandon McCarthy pitched into the seventh inning of his first start in nearly three months as Texas beat Toronto for a doubleheader sweep. Tigers 8, Indians 5: At Detroit, Placido Polanco and Carlos Guillen homered on successive pitches, and Brandon Inge also went deep to lift Detroit over Cleveland. Twins 4, White Sox 3: At Minneapolis, Jose Morales singled home Nick Punto with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift Minnesota past Chicago for their ninth win in 11 games. Royals 4, Athletics 3: At Oakland, California, Alberto Callaspo hit a go-ahead two-run single in the sixth inning and Kyle Davies struck out six batters and won consecutive starts for the first time all season for Kansas City.
