Ramirez and Ortiz drive Red Sox, 9-2

BOSTON -- The David Ortiz-Manny Ramirez combination struck again -- though for the first time in a while -- shifting the focus from Ramirez’s talk about being traded by the Boston Red Sox and helping to end the New York Yankees’ eight-game winning streak with a 9-2 victory Sunday night.

Ramirez doubled twice and drove in two runs only hours after saying he was “tired” of the Red Sox and would agree to a trade if it made him and the team happy. Ortiz homered and drove in three runs in his third game after sitting out 45 games because of an injured left wrist.

The Red Sox moved one game behind American League East leader Tampa Bay after preventing a three-game sweep. The Yankees, who had been 8-0 since the All-Star break, remained three games back.

Boston scored in each of the first four innings, taking a 7-0 lead against Sidney Ponson (6-2), who hadn’t lost since May 26. It was only the second time in 17 games that a Yankees starter gave up more than three earned runs.

Jon Lester (9-3) stayed unbeaten since his last loss, on May 25, with his sixth win in nine starts despite working out of trouble in four of the first five innings.