Bullpen Backs Work by Rodriguez Tandem

For once, the Texas Rangers got a big effort from their bullpen.

Alex Rodriguez hit his major league-leading 37th homer, and Ivan Rodriguez made up for a key error by scoring the go-ahead run, and the Rangers rallied to defeat the Boston Red Sox, 8-6, Saturday night at Arlington, Texas.

Texas relievers had a 5.56 earned-run average, 13th in the American League, but it was the Boston bullpen that faltered.

“We let one get away from us that we shouldn’t have,” catcher Jason Varitek said.

Alex Rodriguez’s home run was his 278th as a shortstop, breaking a tie with Ernie Banks and moving into second place on the all-time list behind Cal Ripken’s 345.

Boston’s Johnny Damon homered in his third consecutive game. Kevin Mench hit a three-run homer for the Rangers.

Ivan Rodriguez’s seventh-inning error led to three unearned runs. But with the score tied, 6-6, he opened the eighth with a double into the left-field corner against Bob Howry (2-3).

Carl Everett followed with a sacrifice bunt that was fielded by third baseman Shea Hillenbrand, whose errant throw to first allowed Rodriguez to score. Everett reached second on the error.

Everett advanced to third on Frank Catalanotto’s bunt. Michael Young, who went three for four, followed with a run-scoring single.

“Our hitters battled back, put up a lot of runs and gave us a chance to win,” Howry said. “We’ve got to be able to hold the other team.”

Danny Kolb (2-0) pitched 1 1/3 hitless innings.

“Our job is to come in and get guys out,” Kolb said. “Our offense bailed us out a couple of times, then we were able to hold them off.”

Oakland 8, Detroit 4--Tim Hudson (8-9) rounded back into form with seven innings of four-hit ball, and Scott Hatteberg had a three-run double for the Athletics at Oakland.

Mark Ellis had two triples and Eric Chavez hit his 24th homer for the A’s.

Hudson, who had won twice in his previous seven starts, didn’t give up an earned run until Carlos Pena’s two-run homer in the seventh.

Miguel Tejada extended his hitting streak to 23 games, the longest in the American League this season and third-longest in Oakland history.

Minnesota 4, Kansas City 3--Luis Rivas homered with one out in the 10th inning at Minneapolis to lift the Twins in Brad Radke’s return from the disabled list.

Radke, who was sidelined for two months, struck out a season-high eight in six innings. He gave up three runs and four hits, and walked two.

Johan Santana (6-2) combined with three other relievers to pitch four scoreless innings.

Baltimore 8, Toronto 4--Travis Driskill won for the first time in nearly a month, and Chris Singleton homered in his second consecutive game at Toronto.

Singleton’s two-run homer in the fourth against Chris Carpenter (4-3) gave the Orioles a 7-0 lead.

Driskill (7-5) gave up four runs and six hits in seven-plus innings for his first victory since July 4.

Tampa Bay 6, Chicago 2--Paul Wilson won consecutive starts for the first time in more than a year, and Jason Conti hit a two-run single during a five-run third inning at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Wilson (4-7) gave up two runs and five hits in eight innings.

Chicago starter Todd Ritchie (5-15), who leads the majors in losses, gave up six runs and 10 hits in six innings. He has lost five consecutive starts, giving up 27 runs and 45 hits in 24 2/3 innings.