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OAKLAND, Calif. Buccaneers Mike Evans Elite Jersey . -- David Ortiz saved his only hit for a key moment for the Boston Red Sox. Ortiz connected for a leadoff home run in the 10th inning, and the Red Sox beat the Oakland Athletics 7-6 on Sunday to avoid a four-game series sweep. "I like to go out there and make things happen," Ortiz said. "Weve had a good game, had a good series and then we go back to struggles. So hopefully everything changes at some point." Ortiz was the only Boston starter without a hit until he lined a 1-2 pitch from Fernando Abad (2-3) over the wall in left-centre for his 17th homer. The Red Sox had to go extra innings after letting a 6-1 lead slip away. The As scored three runs in the eighth, and then homered twice in the ninth against Koji Uehara (3-1). The closer had converted 31 consecutive save opportunities dating to 2013. "Im getting hit on day games," Uehara said through an interpreter. "I think its because Im old. Im not woken up." The Red Sox pulled within 6 1/2 games of first-place Toronto in the AL East. New York and Baltimore are 1 1/2 games back. Ortizs homer came four days after the designated hitter belted a tying drive in the 10th inning of a 2-1 victory against Minnesota. "He does have the knack for the moment," Boston manager John Farrell said. "More than anything he stays at rest or at peace mentally in those key spots and doesnt miss his pitch when he gets it." Mike Napoli and David Ross also homered for Boston, which had been limited to two runs or fewer in eight consecutive games. Napoli scored another run as part of a double steal, and former As player Jonny Gomes added a two-run single. Oaklands late surge negated a strong outing by Boston starter Jon Lester. Lester, who had a career-high 15 strikeouts against the As earlier this season, allowed two earned runs and four hits over 7 2-3 innings. He struck out four and walked two. The veteran left-hander left after hitting Craig Gentry and walking Jed Lowrie with two outs in the eighth. Burke Badenhop came in and gave up three consecutive RBI singles to make it 6-4 before Andrew Miller got pinch-hitter Coco Crisp to line out to shortstop. Uehara, who had the longest successful save streak in the majors, blew a shot at extending his impressive run when he yielded home runs by Stephen Vogt and pinch-hitter John Jaso. "Thats a good example of the kind of grit and determination this team has," said Oakland closer Sean Doolittle, who grounded out to second as a pinch hitter in the 10th. "Night after night it seems like its only a matter of time before our offence finds a way to come through and push some runs across." Oakland catcher Derek Norris had to leave the game in the 10th after a frightening situation when he was hit in the back of the head by Gomes bat on a follow-through swing. Norris immediately dropped to the ground as home plate Greg Gibson quickly called for As trainers. Norris was eventually helped to his feet and walked to the dugout. He was taken to a hospital as precaution and was scheduled to undergo a CAT scan. Boston broke out of its week-long scoring slump and got to Tommy Milone after loading the bases with two outs in the first on two singles and a walk. Gomes two-run single put the Red Sox up 2-0. Ross, who homered off Milone earlier this season at Fenway Park, did it again on the first pitch in the second. NOTES: Oaklands last four-game sweep of Boston came in 1971 at Fenway Park. ... Oakland 1B Kyle Blanks left after getting thrown out at home in the second. Blanks has been nursing a calf strain and aggravated it while sliding into home plate. ... With two days off in the next week, the As plan to skip Sonny Grays turn in the rotation. Gray, who has yet to pitch a full season in the majors, has already logged a team-leading 99 innings. ... Boston OF Shane Victorino (right hamstring strain) took batting practice with Triple-A Pawtucket but did not play. .. Red Sox RHP John Lackey (8-4) pitches the series opener against Seattle on Monday. ... It was Oaklands eighth sellout of the season. Buccaneers Brandon Myers White Jersey . Kidd was honoured Tuesday after the Nets went 12-4 while playing all month without starting centre Kevin Garnett. He also won the award for January, joining Chicagos Tom Thibodeau as the only two-time winners in their first season since the league began giving monthly coaching awards in 1982-83. Buccaneers Mike Evans Black Jersey .com) - The Minnesota Wild will aim for a third consecutive victory when they visit the winless Buffalo Sabres for Mondays battle at First Niagara Center.WINNIPEG -- The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have brought back Bob Wylie to help develop their offensive line. Wylie was Winnipegs offensive line coach in 2007 and 2008 and most recently he coached the offensive line of the NFLs Oakland Raiders in 2011. Under Wylie, Oaklands offensive line improved from one of the worst in sacks given up to the top five in the NFL. Wylie spent the 2010 season coaching the offensive line with the Denver Broncos, and before returning to the NFL he spent the 2009 season coaching the Saskatchewan Roughriderss offensive line. Winnipeg head coach Mike OShea praised the veteran, who has coached for 20 professional seasons. "Bob is a great teacher of the game," OShea said Tuesday. "He has a long resume of coaching experience aand we are thrilled to have him join our staff.Buccaneers Vincent Jackson Black Jersey. . His experience in all levels of football, on both sides of the border, is such a huge asset for us." The Bombers also added import offensive lineman Randy Richards and import linebacker Cyhl Quarles to their roster Tuesday. Richards is a six-foot-three, 303-pound offensive tackle who played two seasons at Missouri State University from 2011 to 2012. He went undrafted but had a tryout with the San Diego Chargers and was on Tampa Bays practice roster. Quarles, six-three and 212 pounds, played four seasons at Wake Forest University from 2008 to 2011. He attended the 2012 NFL Combine but went undrafted, signed a tryout contract with the Baltimore Ravens and was released in August 2012. ' ' ' |
