Loretta Gets Taste of Success in Win

Mark Loretta hit a two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Boston Red Sox, saved by Kevin Youkilis’ hustle, rallied past the Seattle Mariners, 7-6, Monday in the annual Patriots Day game at Boston.

As he rounded the bases after his first game-ending homer, Loretta thought about taking off his batting helmet to make it less inviting for his teammates to pound his head in the celebration.

He decided against it.

“Having it being my first time, I thought I wanted the total experience,” Loretta said. “I’ve never experienced it before at any level -- Little League, high school or college level. Just complete euphoria. You kind of have to take a step back and think, ‘Is the game really over?’ ”

Mariner reliever Eddie Guardado struck out the first two batters in the ninth. Youkilis then hit a grounder up the middle and second baseman Jose Lopez made a diving stop, but his throw to first was a bit late.

Loretta followed with his first home run for the Red Sox.

Chicago 9, Kansas City 0 -- Jose Contreras and two relievers combined on a one-hitter at Chicago as the White Sox sent the Royals to their eighth straight loss.

Paul Konerko and Joe Crede homered in a five-run first off Joe Mays as Chicago sailed to its seventh win in eight games.

Contreras, who won his final eight starts of the 2005 regular season to lead the White Sox into the playoffs, walked one and struck out six in seven strong innings on a 48-degree night. Boone Logan and Cliff Politte completed the shutout with one inning each.

Cleveland 10, Detroit 2 -- The Indians beat the Tigers so handily at Detroit that Tiger Manager Jim Leyland was compelled to unleash a booming, expletive-filled tirade that could be heard outside the clubhouse.

Detroit’s Chris Shelton hit his ninth homer to tie for the major league lead, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Paul Byrd’s seven solid innings or a six-run third inning.

“We stunk,” Leyland said while speaking to reporters for less than a minute, a terse session that ended with him abruptly storming out of his office. “The whole ball of wax was lackluster.

“It’s been going on here before.”