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Ramirez, Damon help Red Sox stay level with Yankees

Posted on: Sunday, 25 September 2005, 19:08 CDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon homered and the Boston Red Sox scored five runs in the first inning to beat the Baltimore Orioles 9-3 in American League play Sunday at Camden Yards.

Cheered on by thousands of Red Sox fans who made the trip to Baltimore, Boston kept pace with the New York Yankees in the AL East standings with the win.

The Red Sox and Yankees are tied for first with seven games left, but the Red Sox play all their games at home and the Yankees play all their games on the road.

The teams met in a three-game series to conclude the season, starting Friday at Fenway Park.

"I'm not going to get too excited about anything, not until we clinch a playoff spot and then after that not until you win the World Series," said Damon.

"So there's not much comfort right now. We know we have to go play good baseball or we know our season is going to be over."

Ramirez's two-run homer got the Red Sox going in the first inning and John Olerud followed with a two-run single and Bill Mueller with a run-scoring single to give David Wells a big lead. It was the fifth homer in five games for Ramirez.

Melvin Mora and Miguel Tejada homered in the Baltimore first to make it 5-2, but the Red Sox scored four more runs in the fourth on an RBI double by Jason Varitek, a sacrifice fly by Mueller and Damon's two-run homer.

Mueller wound up with three hits and two RBI for Boston and Trot Nixon had two hits and scored a pair of runs.

STANDING OVATION

Wells (14-7) allowed three runs on six hits over 6-2/3 innings before leaving with a minor injury to a standing ovation from the many Red Sox fans on hand.

"It was just precaution," Wells said of his injury. "I'm sure I'll be fine.

"We had a pretty good lead, so why push it."

John Maine (2-3) was touched for five runs on five hits in 3-1/3 innings, striking out two and walking four, to get saddled with the loss.

Mora had two of Baltimore's seven hits, while Walter Young drove in the other Oriole run with a seventh inning single.

In New York, Gary Sheffield hit a three-run homer as the Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-4, keeping the Yankees tied with the Red Sox on top of AL East.

Chien-Ming Wang (8-4) pitched seven innings, allowing three runs on six hits, walking one and striking out three for the win. Mariano Rivera pitched 1-1/3 innings for his 42nd save and Robinson Cano homered for the Yankees.

Josh Towers (12-12) pitched seven innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, walking one and striking out three to take the loss. Eric Hinske homered for the Blue Jays.

COMPLETE GAME

In Chicago, Mark Buehrle pitched a complete game as the White Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 4-1, taking a 2-1/2 game lead in the AL Central.

Buehrle (16-8) allowed one run on four hits and struck out six. Paul Konerko homered for the White Sox.

Francisco Liriano (0-2) pitched six innings, allowing four runs on five hits, walking three and striking out eight to take the loss.

In Kansas City, Emil Brown hit a two-run homer as the Royals beat the Cleveland Indians 5-4.

Mike MacDougal (5-6) pitched one inning, allowing one run on two hits and striking out one for the win.

Bob Howry (7-4) got one out, allowing one run on two hits to take the loss. Victor Martinez homered for the Indians.

In Anaheim, Jorge Cantu hit a two-run homer as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays beat the Los Angeles Angels 8-4.

In Detroit, Carlos Pena hit a two-run homer as the Tigers beat the Seattle Mariners 8-1.

Source: REUTERS

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