David Ortiz homered to start a six-run inning, then added a two-run single to finish it on Tuesday night as the Boston Red Sox beat the visiting Florida Marlins, 8-2.

Tim Wakefield (9-3), who made his 380th career start for the Red Sox, allowed two runs in six innings to improve to 6-0 at Fenway Park this season. Chris Volstad (4-7) allowed a career-high eight runs before he left in the fourth, when the Red Sox sent 11 batters to the plate.

Ortiz, a five-time All-Star who had averaged 38 homers a season since 2000 but did not hit one in the first six weeks of this season, now has five — four in his last nine games. His batting average has climbed to .210, 73 points below his career average but at least not below .200, where he had been for most of the last month.

Ortiz homered into the Marlins’ bullpen leading off the fourth. He came up again with the bases loaded and two outs and singled to make the score 8-1.


Smoltz Scheduled to Start for Red Sox

John Smoltz, who has not pitched in the majors since having shoulder surgery last year, is scheduled to make his first start for the Boston Red Sox on June 25. Smoltz, the only pitcher with at least 200 victories and 150 saves, will make a final rehab start Wednesday.


Blue Jays’ Rally Turns Into a Rout

Scott Rolen singled in the go-ahead run in the 10th and the visiting Toronto Blue Jays went on to score four more runs to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies, 8-3. The Blue Jays rallied for a run in the ninth to tie it when the fill-in closer Ryan Madson walked Lyle Overbay with the bases loaded.


Ex-Major Leaguer Guilty of Sexual Assault

The former major league outfielder Mel Hall was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl he coached on a basketball team a decade ago. Hall, 48, was convicted on three counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and two counts of indecency with a child. Hall, who played 13 seasons with four teams, including the Yankees, was arrested in 2007 in a Fort Worth, Tex., suburb.


Astros’ Rodriguez Sets Catching Record

The Houston Astros’ Ivan Rodriguez tied the major league record for games played as a catcher held by the Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk. Rodriguez caught his 2,226th career game against the Texas Rangers, the team for which he made his major league debut at age 19 on June 20, 1991. The host Rangers went on to beat the Astros, 6-1, fueled by two home runs from Ian Kinsler.


Pujols Continues Power Surge in Victory

Albert Pujols hit his fifth home run in five games — at 446 feet, the longest homer at Busch Stadium this season —as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Detroit Tigers, 11-2. Pujols also drew his major league-leading 19th and 20th intentional walks. ... Gil Meche pitched a four-hitter as the Kansas City Royals beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, 5-0, at home. ... Yovani Gallardo won for the third time in four starts despite walking six batters as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Indians, 7-5, in Cleveland.

Mauer Has Four Hits as Twins Top Pirates

Joe Mauer had his second four-hit game of the season and the host Minnesota Twins beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 8-2. Mauer had three singles and a run-scoring double, raising his season average to .429. He missed spring training and the month of April with a back injury.


Torrealba Brings His Son to Ballpark

Colorado Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealba brought his 11-year-old son to Coors Field, nearly two weeks after the boy was kidnapped in Venezuela while on his way to school. Yorvit Eduardo met his father’s teammates, threw the ball around and then sat in the dugout as the Rockies lost to the Tampa Bay Rays, 12-4. Torrealba has not played since the kidnapping. “He’s been through living hell, as you well know,” Manager Jim Tracy told reporters.

Rangers’ Closer Says He Is Ready to Pitch

Rangers closer Frank Francisco, who has not pitched in a game since June 3 because of shoulder stiffness, threw a bullpen session and pronounced himself ready to pitch. He will probably make a rehab appearance on Thursday. ... The Atlanta Braves minor leaguer Rafael Cruz, a 32-year-old pitcher who spent the past two seasons in Japan, was suspended for 50 games by baseball after testing positive for the steroid stanozolol. ... Royals reliever Kyle Farnsworth needed four stitches in his left, nonpitching, hand after being bitten while trying to break up a fight between his two bulldogs.

source : http://www.nytimes.com