Hermanson Is Up to the Task

Dustin Hermanson finally had a reason to show his excitable nature.

After spending all but eight days of the season on the disabled list, Hermanson stepped in for Pedro Martinez and won his official debut as a Red Sox starter as Boston defeated the Texas Rangers, 12-3, Thursday night at Fenway Park.

Martinez is healthy, but Manager Grady Little decided to use him today against the Angels instead because he didn’t want to waste a start by his ace with a threat of rain.

“I was more than happy to step in,” Hermanson said. “I would have pitched in a snowstorm tonight.”

He got plenty of support as Manny Ramirez had two homers and six runs batted in to spark Boston to a 12-0 lead after four innings. Hermanson (1-0) was sharp with four shutout innings before giving up two runs in the fifth.

Frank Castillo pitched four innings for his second career save and first since 1998.

Ramirez went four for four with a season-high 11 total bases. Jason Varitek drove in three runs with a single and a double despite a moderate rain that fell most of the game.

Oakland 9, Cleveland 3--Mark Mulder completed the Athletics’ first four-game sweep of Cleveland and visiting Oakland won its season-high ninth consecutive game.

Mulder (15-7) followed a brilliant performance by Cory Lidle--a one-hitter Wednesday night--with a pretty good one of his own, giving up three runs and five hits in 7 2/3 innings.

Mulder walked none, struck out two and got 16 outs on grounders as the A’s moved into a tie for first place in the AL West with Seattle.

Seattle 4, Detroit 2--Mike Cameron singled in two runs in a three-run sixth inning as the Mariners split the four-game series at Detroit.

Cameron was seven for 11 in the series, including hits in six consecutive at-bats, after arriving in Detroit in an 0-for-21 slump.

Ryan Franklin (5-3) pitched six innings, giving up two runs, four hits and a walk. Kazuhiro Sasaki pitched the ninth for his 32nd save in 37 tries.

Minnesota 8, Kansas City 6--Jacque Jones hit a home run leading off a game for the third time in four days and Cristian Guzman and Luis Rivas also homered as the Twins won at Kansas City, Mo.

Baltimore 3, Tampa Bay 2--Jerry Hairston homered and scored the winning run in the bottom of the 11th on a single by Tony Batista at Baltimore to carry the Orioles to victory in front of the smallest crowd (21,447) in the 11-year history of Camden Yards.