Red Sox Get Scare in Win Over A’s

The Boston Red Sox still had plenty of power after Manny Ramirez was plunked in the head by a first-inning pitch.

Trot Nixon hit a two-run homer and drove in four runs, Kevin Millar hit a three-run shot for his first homer, and the Red Sox beat the Oakland Athletics 13-5 Monday night at Boston.

“It’s good, when a pitcher makes a mistake, to capitalize on it,” Nixon said, “and I was fortunate enough to hit a couple of mistakes.”

Oakland’s fielding mistakes may have been worse than its pitching problems. Nine of Boston’s runs were unearned -- all five in the fourth inning and four in a seven-run seventh -- and first baseman Scott Hatteberg made two errors on one play in the fourth.

“If we make that play, perhaps we get out of that inning with no runs,” Manager Ken Macha said. “It was a big play of the game.”

Oakland’s problems started in the first when Dan Haren’s first pitch to Ramirez, a breaking ball, hit the slugger on the left side of the head. There were no symptoms of a concussion, and Ramirez was resting comfortably at home, team spokesman Glenn Geffner said. There was no estimate on when he might play again.

Tim Wakefield (4-1) got his 118th win with the Red Sox, moving into sole possession of fifth place in team history, one ahead of Pedro Martinez and Smoky Joe Wood. Boston’s starters are 8-0 in 10 games since Curt Schilling and David Wells went on the disabled list.

New York 4, Seattle 3 -- Randy Johnson pitched eight innings, Tony Womack hit a go-ahead single and the Yankees won at New York for their first three-game winning streak of the season.

Adrian Beltre homered for the Mariners, who have lost eight of nine.

Detroit 2, Texas 0 -- Nate Robertson pitched eight strong innings, and Craig Monroe hit a run-scoring triple with two out in the ninth at Arlington, Texas.

The Tigers got their only runs off AL saves leader Francisco Cordero (0-1), who took over after Chris Young threw eight innings.

Baltimore 3, Minnesota 0 -- Daniel Cabrera outpitched Carlos Silva, and Miguel Tejada homered and drove in two runs at Baltimore as the Orioles ended the Twins’ four-game winning streak.

Tampa Bay 4, Chicago 2 -- Chris Singleton had two hits and drove in two runs at St. Petersburg, Fla., to help end the White Sox’s eight-game winning streak.

Lance Carter (1-0) pitched three scoreless innings in relief of Hideo Nomo, who left because of cramps in his left hamstring in the sixth.

Toronto 6, Kansas City 1 -- Josh Towers won his third start in a row by pitching eight strong innings at Toronto, and the Blue Jays ended a four-game losing streak.