Jacoby Ellsbury and Jason Bay both had two RBI during a six-run fifth Wednesday that vaulted the Boston Red Sox to a 9-2 win over Kansas City. David Ortiz added a three-run homer in the ninth to help bring the Red Sox closer to the American League's wild-card playoff berth.

Jason Bay and Jacoby Ellsbury hit solo homers Sunday, boosting the Boston Red Sox in a 9-3 rout of Baltimore and a three-game sweep. Ellsbury had three hits and three RBI. Bay finished with two hits and three RBI. Mike Lowell hit a two-run single. Victor Martinez had two hits and one RBI, while two

Clay Buchholz and four relievers combined to throw a five-hitter Friday in Boston's 3-1 victory over Baltimore. Buchholz (6-3) won his fifth straight decision and helped Boston bounce back from a setback Thursday that ended its seven-game winning streak. The Red Sox inched closer to a playoff spot after beginning the day with a six-game advantage over Texas in the American League wild-card race. Buchholz allowed all five Baltimore hits, walked three and struck out one in six innings.

Alex Gonzalez drove in three runs and scored two and four other Boston players had at least one RBI as the Red Sox crushed struggling Tampa Bay 9-1. The win in the rain-shortened game marked Boston's third straight and increased its lead in the AL wild-card race to three games over Texas, which lost to Seattle Saturday. In the Sox slugfest, Kevin Youkilis drove a home run over the Green Monster and had two RBI, while Jacoby Ellsbury, Victor Martinez and David Ortiz each knocked in one. Starter Josh Beckett (15-6) held the Rays to one run on four hits, while striking out four and walking one in five-plus innings.

Pat Burrell singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth Wednesday and Evan Longoria soon added a two-run homer, launching Tampa Bay to an 8-5 win over Boston. The Red Sox, whose four-game winning streak ended, saw their lead in the American League wild-card race trimmed to 2 1/2 games over Texas.