Cody Ross helped the Boston Red Sox rebound from a frustrating loss.

Ross homered and drove in four runs, Felix Doubront won his third consecutive start and the Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays, 5-3, on Thursday night.

“I was going after this game tonight,” Boston manager Bobby Valentine said. “The guys really wanted this game, and I was just going to do everything we could to win it. Just frustration (from Wednesday’s loss), and we wanted to get back into the winning ways.”

The Red Sox were beaten, 2-1, on Wednesday. The Rays’ go-ahead run scored when Ross, in right field, had problems with the Tropicana Field roof and had to backpedal to catch Luke Scott’s shallow sacrifice fly.

Ross extended Boston’s lead to 5-2 Thursday on a two-run single off reliever Wade Davis with two outs in the eighth.

“Cody was big,” Valentine said. “Cody will give you everything he has, and it’s enough for me.”

Doubront (4-1) allowed two runs and six hits over 52/3 innings. The left-hander was hit on the ear by a ball during batting practice Tuesday and cleared one day later to make his scheduled start.

Matt Moore (1-4) gave up three runs and five hits in six innings for Tampa Bay, which had its four-game winning streak snapped.

“I thought he finished really strong,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. “That’s definitely a game to build off. He definitely pitched well enough to win. Confidence is a big thing. I know he’s going to sleep better. Despite the loss, he’s going to feel better about himself. That’s just a right step in the right direction.”

Moore retired his last 10 batters. He struck out eight and walked one.

Alfredo Aceves, the fifth Boston reliever, got four outs for his eighth save. He allowed B.J Upton’s RBI single with two outs in the eighth.

After falling behind in the count 0-2, Ross worked a bases-loaded walk off Moore to put the Red Sox up 1-0 in the first. Moore avoided further damage by striking out Daniel Nava to end the inning.

Boston went ahead 2-0 on Marlon Byrd’s second-inning homer. Ross made it 3-0 with his seventh homer, on an 0-2 pitch with two outs in the third.

Jeff Keppinger got the Rays within 3-1 on an RBI single in the third. Upton reached base with two outs when Kelly Shoppach was charged with catcher’s interference and went to second when Luke Scott was hit by a pitch.

Rich Thompson, who has played in 1,388 minor league games, cut the Tampa Bay deficit to 3-2 with his first big league hit, a run-scoring single in the fourth. Thompson, acquired in a trade with Philadelphia on Wednesday, also stole second and third after his hit.

The Rays loaded the bases later in the fourth with two outs, but Scott hit a hard liner that was caught by first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.

“We always have pretty good series against the Rays,” Boston shortstop Mike Aviles said. “The fact they won (Wednesday) in a close game, and another close game today, it’s definitely good to get that win. Bobby did the right thing mixing and matching later in the game.”

Aviles was ejected in the seventh by plate umpire Dan Bellino for arguing after striking out. It was his first career ejection.

“Guys had complaints tonight and I was with them,” Valentine said. “We’ve got to fight through it, that’s for sure. We’re trying our hardest, and I think they’re trying their hardest, too.”

Tampa Bay second baseman Will Rhymes was not in the lineup a night after being hit by a pitch in the right arm, fainting after walking to first base and having to be driven off the field on a cart. Maddon said Rhymes, who is day to day with a bruised right forearm, was feeling better and wanted to take batting practice but the team trainer wouldn’t allow it.

Around the bases

Tampa Bay senior adviser Don Zimmer returned to Tropicana Field for a game for the first time since the opening weekend of the season against the New York Yankees. The 81-year-old ex-Red Sox and Cubs manager has been undergoing dialysis for kidney problems. … Valentine said DH David Ortiz will play first base and Gonzalez will move to right field for at least one game of this weekend’s interleague series at Philadelphia. … Tampa Bay 3B Evan Longoria (partial tear left hamstring) took grounders and continues taking batting practice.

ST. PETERSBURG — Bobby Valentine said he could sense his guys wanted Thursday night’s game, and the Boston Red Sox played like it. A night after having their five-game winning streak stopped, the Red Sox regained their mid-May momentum, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 at Tropicana Field on Thursday. “I just think these guys were ready to get back to the winning ways,” Boston’s manager said. Cody Ross hit his seventh home run and drove in four runs, and Marlon Byrd hit his first home run for Boston, helping the Sox gain a split in the two-game series. “Cody was big tonight,” Valentine said after Ross drew a bases-loaded walk in the first, hit a two-out solo home run in the third and broke the game open with a two-run single in the eighth. “He busted the third changeup he saw over the center field fence, and he busted the (defensive) shift for two RBIs that turned out to be the two we needed. “Cody will give you eveything he has and, it’s enough for me. Good player.” Felix Doubront (4-1) won his third consecutive start after allowing two runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings. Alfredo Aceves picked up his eighth save after getting the final four outs. The Rays lost for the first time in five games and for only the fourth this year at home. They made it interesting in the eighth, though, pulling to 5-3 on B.J. Upton’s RBI single and getting two runners in scoring position before Aceves got Luke Scott to ground out to end the threat. Matt Moore (1-4), the Rays’ touted 22-year-old rookie, struggled in the early innings before settling in. He retired the side in his final three frames before leaving after six innings with his team trailing 3-2. “If you consider how I dug a hole for us early in the game, it was OK,” Moore said. “I feel like some adjustments were made (in which) I just started attacking more, especially (with) two guys we were maybe nibbling at earlier.” Balls-and-strikes calls were an issue for the Red Sox for a second consecutive night. Adrian Gonzalez complained after Boston’s 2-1 loss Wednesday that it was hard to have “a professional at-bat” with the umpiring, and on Thursday, shortstop and leadoff man Mike Aviles received his first career ejection in the seventh inning for arguing a two-out, third-strike call by Dan Bellino. Valentine didn’t back off after the game. “We can’t fight the umpire and the other team, but we’re a highly competitive team, and you like to be given a chance,” he said. “Other guys had complaints tonight, and I was with them.” Righty reliever Burke Badenhop struck out the side in that seventh inning, also getting Byrd and Kelly Shoppach. The Rays scored single runs in the third and fourth against Doubront after Boston took a 3-0 lead and threatened again in the sixth, when Ben Zobrist singled with two out and Upton doubled to put runners at first and third. Lefty Rich Hill came on and got Scott to fly out to left. The Red Sox loaded the bases and scored one run in the first against Moore, who has struggled with his location and high pitch counts. Aviles and David Ortiz singled, and Gonzalez, who had predicted to the Boston media he would hit a home run Thursday night, took a first-pitch fastball to the hip area. Valentine didn’t think the pitch was intentional. “If it was, it was the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen in baseball,” he said. “But it might have been. I doubt it. If it was (that kind of ) stupidity, maybe the game has passed me by.” After Moore struck out Will Middlebrooks for the second out, Ross took a close 2-2 pitch off the outside corner for a ball, fouled off a couple of pitches, and drew an RBI walk. By the time Moore struck out Daniel Nava for the third out, he’d thrown 33 pitches. Byrd led off with a home run in the second, and Ross’ two-out solo home run in the third put Boston ahead 3-0. Byrd, acquired from the Chicago Cubs last month, homered for the first time for his new team. The Rays punched back with one run each in the third and the fourth innings. Jeff Keppinger’s line-drive single to left scored Upton after a two-out rally began with a catcher’s interference call against Shoppach. Then, in the fourth, Rich Thompson’s two-out single up the middle scored Sean Rodriguez to pull the Rays to 3-2. Thompson was making his first major league start, at age 33 and a day after the Rays acquired him from the Phillies. His only previous major league at-bat had come in 2004 for Kansas City, when he hit into a double play against catcher Tim Laker, who was pitching in a mop-up role. Thompson wasn’t done, either. He followed his RBI single by stealing second and third base before the Rays left the bases loaded when Scott hit a hard line drive to first baseman Gonzalez. NOTES: Rays infielder Will Rhymes (bruised right forearm) was not in the starting lineup after getting hit by a pitch and passing out at first base Wednesday night, but he said he could take the field as soon as Friday. He said watching a replay of the incident was “kind of tough” and that he hadn’t realized “I was out like that.” … Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis (lower back strain), who began a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket on Wednesday, will play his second game Friday (and first in the field). Right-handed pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka (right elbow surgery) made his fifth minor league rehab start for Pawtucket. … The Rays are intrigued by newly acquired Thompson’s 442 minor league stolen bases, including an International League-leading 48 last year. “He’s been able to maintain his speed over time, and that’s a big part of why he’s still attractive,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. … Ortiz will likely play at least one game at first base in the weekend interleague series at Philadelphia, Valentine said. Gonzalez would move to right field. … Rays third baseman Evan Longoria (partial hamstring tear) worked on his hand-eye coordination before the game by taking grounders from his knees. … The Rays still haven’t announced who’ll pitch for injured Jeff Niemann on Saturday against Atlanta, but it will likely be Alex Cobb or Chris Archer from Triple-A Durham.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Cody Ross helped the Boston Red Sox rebound from a frustrating loss.

Ross homered and drove in four runs, Felix Doubront won his third consecutive start and the Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 on Thursday night.

”I was going after this game tonight,” Boston manager Bobby Valentine said. ”The guys really wanted this game, and I was just going to do everything we could to win it. Just frustration (from Wednesday’s loss), and we wanted to get back into the winning ways.”

The Red Sox were beaten 2-1 on Wednesday. The Rays’ go-ahead run scored when Ross, in right field, had problems with the Tropicana Field roof and had to backpedal to catch Luke Scott’s shallow sacrifice fly.

Ross extended Boston’s lead to 5-2 Thursday on a two-run single off reliever Wade Davis with two outs in the eighth.

”Cody was big,” Valentine said. ”Cody will give you everything he has, and it’s enough for me.”

Doubront (4-1) allowed two runs and six hits over 5 2-3 innings. The left-hander was hit on the ear by a ball during batting practice Tuesday and cleared one day later to make his scheduled start.

Matt Moore (1-4) gave up three runs and five hits in six innings for Tampa Bay, which had its four-game winning streak snapped.

”I thought he finished really strong,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. ”That’s definitely a game to build off. He definitely pitched well enough to win. Confidence is a big thing. I know he’s going to sleep better. Despite the loss, he’s going to feel better about himself. That’s just a right step in the right direction.”

Moore retired his last 10 batters. He struck out eight and walked one.

Alfredo Aceves, the fifth Boston reliever, got four outs for his eighth save. He allowed B.J Upton’s RBI single with two outs in the eighth.

After falling behind in the count 0-2, Ross worked a bases-loaded walk off Moore to put the Red Sox up 1-0 in the first. Moore avoided further damage by striking out Daniel Nava to end the inning.

Boston went ahead 2-0 on Marlon Byrd’s second-inning homer. Ross made it 3-0 with his seventh homer, on an 0-2 pitch with two outs in the third.

Jeff Keppinger got the Rays within 3-1 on an RBI single in the third. Upton reached base with two outs when Kelly Shoppach was charged with catcher’s interference and went to second when Luke Scott was hit by a pitch.

Rich Thompson, who has played in 1,388 minor league games, cut the Tampa Bay deficit to 3-2 with his first big league hit, a run-scoring single in the fourth. Thompson, acquired in a trade with Philadelphia on Wednesday, also stole second and third after his hit.

The Rays loaded the bases later in the fourth with two outs, but Scott hit a hard liner that was caught by first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.

”We always have pretty good series against the Rays,” Boston shortstop Mike Aviles said. ”The fact they won (Wednesday) in a close game, and another close game today, it’s definitely good to get that win. Bobby did the right thing mixing and matching later in the game.”

Aviles was ejected in the seventh by plate umpire Dan Bellino for arguing after striking out. It was his first career ejection.

”Guys had complaints tonight and I was with them,” Valentine said. ”We’ve got to fight through it, that’s for sure. We’re trying our hardest, and I think they’re trying their hardest, too.”

Tampa Bay second baseman Will Rhymes was not in the lineup a night after being hit by a pitch in the right arm, fainting after walking to first base and having to be driven off the field on a cart. Maddon said Rhymes, who is day to day with a bruised right forearm, was feeling better and wanted to take batting practice but the team trainer wouldn’t allow it.

NOTES: Tampa Bay senior adviser Don Zimmer returned to Tropicana Field for a game for the first time since the opening weekend of the season against the New York Yankees. The 81-year-old ex-Red Sox and Cubs manager has been undergoing dialysis for kidney problems. … Valentine said DH David Ortiz will play first base and Gonzalez will move to right field for at least one game of this weekend’s interleague series at Philadelphia. … Tampa Bay 3B Evan Longoria (partial tear left hamstring) took grounders and continues taking batting practice.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Cody Ross helped the Boston Red Sox rebound from a frustrating loss.

Ross homered and drove in four runs, Felix Doubront won his third consecutive start and the Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 on Thursday night.”I was going after this game tonight,” Boston manager Bobby Valentine said. “The guys really wanted this game, and I was just going to do everything we could to win it. Just frustration (from Wednesday’s loss), and we wanted to get back into the winning ways.”

The Red Sox were beaten 2-1 on Wednesday. The Rays’ go-ahead run scored when Ross, in right field, had problems with the Tropicana Field roof and had to backpedal to catch Luke Scott’s shallow sacrifice fly.Ross extended Boston’s lead to 5-2 Thursday on a two-run single off reliever Wade Davis with two outs in the eighth.”Cody was big,” Valentine said. “Cody will give you everything he has, and it’s enough for me.”Doubront (4-1) allowed two runs and six hits over 5 2/3 innings. The left-hander was hit on the ear by a ball during batting practice Tuesday and cleared one day later to make his scheduled start.Matt Moore (1-4) gave up three runs and five hits in six innings for Tampa Bay, which had its four-game winning streak snapped.”I thought he finished really strong,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. “That’s definitely a game to build off. He definitely pitched well enough to win. Confidence is a big thing. I know he’s going to sleep better. Despite the loss, he’s going to feel better about himself. That’s just a right step in the right direction.”Moore retired his last 10 batters. He struck out eight and walked one.Alfredo Aceves, the fifth Boston reliever, got four outs for his eighth save. He allowed B.J. Upton’s RBI single with two outs in the eighth.After falling behind in the count 0-2, Ross worked a bases-loaded walk off Moore to put the Red Sox up 1-0 in the first. Moore avoided further damage by striking out Daniel Nava to end the inning.Boston went ahead 2-0 on Marlon Byrd’s second-inning homer. Ross made it 3-0 with his seventh homer, on an 0-2 pitch with two outs in the third.

Jeff Keppinger got the Rays within 3-1 on an RBI single in the third. Upton reached base with two outs when Kelly Shoppach was charged with catcher’s interference and went to second when Luke Scott was hit by a pitch.Rich Thompson, who has played in 1,388 minor league games, cut the Tampa Bay deficit to 3-2 with his first big league hit, a run-scoring single in the fourth. Thompson, acquired in a trade with Philadelphia on Wednesday, also stole second and third after his hit.The Rays loaded the bases later in the fourth with two outs, but Scott hit a hard liner that was caught by first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.”We always have pretty good series against the Rays,” Boston shortstop Mike Aviles said. “The fact they won (Wednesday) in a close game, and another close game today, it’s definitely good to get that win. Bobby did the right thing mixing and matching later in the game.”Aviles was ejected in the seventh by plate umpire Dan Bellino for arguing after striking out. It was his first career ejection.”Guys had complaints tonight and I was with them,” Valentine said. “We’ve got to fight through it, that’s for sure. We’re trying our hardest, and I think they’re trying their hardest, too.”Tampa Bay second baseman Will Rhymes was not in the lineup a night after being hit by a pitch in the right arm, fainting after walking to first base and having to be driven off the field on a cart. Maddon said Rhymes, who is day to day with a bruised right forearm, was feeling better and wanted to take batting practice but the team trainer wouldn’t allow it.Game notes
Tampa Bay senior adviser Don Zimmer returned to Tropicana Field for a game for the first time since the opening weekend of the season against the New York Yankees. The 81-year-old ex-Red Sox and Cubs manager has been undergoing dialysis for kidney problems. … Valentine said DH David Ortiz will play first base and Gonzalez will move to right field for at least one game of this weekend’s interleague series at Philadelphia. … Tampa Bay 3B Evan Longoria (partial tear left hamstring) took grounders and continues taking batting practice.

Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press

ST. PETERSBURG — A night after their five-game winning streak was stopped, the Boston Red Sox regained their mid-May momentum, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 at Tropicana Field on Thursday. Cody Ross had a bases-loaded walk, solo home run and two-run single, and Marlon Byrd hit his first home run for Boston, helping the Red Sox gain a split in the two-game series. Felix Doubront (4-1) won his third consecutive start, allowing two runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings. The Rays lost for the first time in five games and only the fourth this year at home. They made it interesting in the eighth, pulling to 5-3 on B.J. Upton’s RBI single and getting two runners in scoring position before Alfredo Aceves got Luke Scott to ground out to end the threat. Matt Moore (1-4), the Rays‘ touted 22-year-old rookie, struggled in the early innings before settling in. He retired the side in his final three frames before leaving after six innings with his team trailing 3-2. Balls-and-strikes calls were an issue for the Red Sox for a second consecutive night. Adrian Gonzalez complained after Boston’s 2-1 loss Wednesday that it was hard to have “a professional at-bat” with the umpiring, and Thursday, shortstop and leadoff man Mike Aviles received his first career ejection in the seventh inning for arguing a two-out, third strike call by Dan Bellino. Righty reliever Burke Badenhop struck out the side in that frame, also getting Byrd and Kelly Shoppach. The Rays scored single runs in the third and fourth against Doubront after Boston took a 3-0 lead and threatened again in the sixth, when Ben Zobrist singled with two out and Upton doubled to put runners at first and third. Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine took the ball from Doubront, and lefty Rich Hill came on and got Scott to fly out to left. Ross’s two-run single off Wade Davis in the eighth broke the game open. The Red Sox loaded the bases and scored one run in the first against Moore, the touted rookie who has struggled with his location and high pitch counts. Aviles and David Ortiz singled, and Gonzalez, who had predicted to the Boston media he would hit a home run Thursday night, took a first-pitch fastball to the hip area. After Moore struck out Will Middlebrooks for the second out, Ross took a close 2-2 pitch off the outside corner for a ball, fouled off a couple of pitches, and drew an RBI walk. By the time Moore struck out Daniel Nave for the third out, he’d thrown 33 pitches. Byrd’s led off with a home run in the second and Ross’ two-out solo home run in the third put Boston ahead 3-0. Byrd, acquired from the Chicago Cubs last month, homered for the first time for his new team. Ross, who had homers in back-to-back games against Tampa Bay in April, hit his seventh of the year. The Rays punched back with one run each in the third and the fourth innings. Jeff Keppinger’s line-drive single to left scored B.J. Upton after a two-out rally began with a catcher’s interference call against Shoppach. Then, in the fourth, Rich Thompson’s two-out single up the middle scored Sean Rodriguez to pull the Rays to 3-2. Thompson was making his first major league start, at age 33 and a day after the Rays acquired him from the Phillies. His only previous major league at-bat had come in 2004 for Kansas City, when he hit into a double play against catcher Tim Laker, who was pitching in a mop-up role. Thompson wasn’t done, either. He followed his RBI single by stealing second and third base before the Rays left the bases loaded when Scott hit a hard line drive to first baseman Gonzalez. NOTES: Rays infielder Will Rhymes (bruised right forearm) was not in the starting lineup after getting hit by a pitch and passing out at first base Wednesday night, but he said he could take the field as soon as Friday. He said watching a replay of the incident was “kind of tough” and that he hadn’t realized “I was out like that.” … Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis (lower back strain), who began a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket on Wednesday, will play his second game Friday (and first in the field). Right-handed pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka (right elbow surgery) made his fifth minor league rehab start for Pawtucket. … The Rays are intrigued by newly acquired Thompson’s 442 minor league stolen bases, including an International League-leading 48 last year. “He’s been able to maintain his speed over time, and that’s a big part of why he’s still attractive,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. … Ortiz will likely play at least one game at first base in the weekend interleague series at Philadelphia, manager Bobby Valentine said. Gonzalez would move to right field. … Rays third baseman Evan Longoria (partial hamstring tear) worked on his hand-eye coordination before the game by taking grounders from his knees. … The Rays still haven’t announced who’ll pitch for injured Jeff Niemann on Saturday against Atlanta, but it will likely be Alex Cobb or Chris Archer from Triple-A Durham.

BOSTON — Dustin Pedroia had three hits and three RBIs to back a solid outing by Clay Buchholz, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Cleveland Indians 7-5 Friday night to snap a three-game skid.

Will Middlebrooks hit a two-run double off Ubaldo Jimenez and Daniel Nava, called up from the minors Thursday, made a pair of outstanding defensive plays to help the last-place Red Sox (13-19) win for only the second time this month.

Boston had lost 11 of its past 12 home games and eight of nine overall.

David Ortiz went 1-for-3 and scored a run but left in the seventh due to a sore left heel. Ortiz was involved in a minor car accident on his way to Fenway Park but said before the game that he was uninjured.

Buchholz (4-1) allowed four runs — three earned — and eight hits over 61/3 innings. He walked three and did not have a strikeout.

Five relievers followed, with Alfredo Aceves earning his sixth save in eight chances.

The Red Sox chased Ubaldo Jimenez (3-3) in the fifth.

Jimenez walked five, hit a batter with a pitch and allowed nine hits and seven earned runs over 41/3 innings. He has walked 30 batters in 40 innings this season.

Carlos Santana had two RBIs for the Indians.

Travis Hafner was 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Indians, who dropped to 10-4 on the road this season.

NOTES: Indians third base coach Steve Smith was ejected for arguing the play at the plate in the second inning. Cleveland manager Manny Acta replaced Smith. … Johnny Damon’s run in the seventh was the 1,647th of his career, tying him with Cal Ripken Jr. for 34th place. … Henry Mahegan was the public address announcer. The Red Sox went without one Thursday in tribute to former PA announcer Carl Beane, who died on Wednesday. … Boston RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka, recovering from Tommy John surgery, is scheduled to make his fourth rehab start Saturday for Triple-A Pawtucket against Columbus. … The Red Sox acquired OF Scott Podsednik from the Philadelphia Phillies for cash. He will report to Triple-A Pawtucket.

- Looking to add depth to an outfield ravaged by injury, the Red Sox acquired Scott Podsednik from the Philadelphia Phillies for cash.

The Red Sox announced the move Friday night. Podsednik was hitting .203 with four RBIs and six stolen bases in 22 games at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

The speedy Podsednik, 36, last appeared in the majors in 2010 with the Royals and Dodgers. He will report to Triple-A Pawtucket.

Podsednik led the National League with 70 stolen bases in 2004.

He played in the 2005 All-Star game as a member of the Chicago White Sox.

The Red Sox have been without left fielder Carl Crawford all season. He had offseason surgery on his left wrist and is now sidelined with a sprained ligament in his throwing elbow. All-Star center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury injured his right shoulder during the second week of the season.

Boston acquired outfielder Marlon Byrd from the Chicago Cubs last month and recently called up Daniel Nava from the minors.

BOSTON — After starting the season 1-5, the Boston Red Sox slugged their way to finishing the first month of the season with a .500 record.

David Ortiz hit a pair of solo home runs and Darnell McDonald and Mike Aviles also homered as the Red Sox held off the Oakland Athletics 11-6 on Monday night.

“It was a good win — seeing the guys all contribute, running around the bases feeling good at home,” manager Bobby Valentine. “It’s a good way to start a homestand.”

Clay Buchholz (3-1) pitched six solid innings before a minor collapse in the seventh allowed Oakland to get back into it. Boston’s beleaguered bullpen was able to get out of two bases-loaded jams and preserve the win for Buchholz.

“The bullpen is going to be fine,” said Ortiz, who hit his fifth and sixth homers of the season. “They’re facing situations like they’ve faced before, sometimes it’s going to work out the way they want it. Sometimes it’s going to get a little tougher. They’re doing a good job.”

The way Ortiz has been hitting makes it a lot easier on Boston’s relievers. Ortiz increased his average to .405 this season and hit multiple home runs for the 36th time with the Red Sox, one fewer than Ted Williams’ club record of 37.

“David’s the star of stars right now,” Valentine said. “It’s hard to throw a strike by him.”

The Red Sox won for the seventh time in eight games and finished the opening month at 11-11 despite starting the season 0-3 and losing five of their first six. Boston also snapped a five-game home losing streak and scored 10 or more runs for the seventh time this season.

Josh Reddick hit a three-run homer for Oakland, which lost its third straight. The A’s made the trip to Boston after blowing a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the ninth Sunday in a 5-2 loss at Texas.

“We’re a big league team. The day before shouldn’t have an effect on you, certainly not this early in the season,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said.

The Red Sox scored four runs in the second, two in the third and then five in the fifth while chasing Oakland starter Tommy Milone (3-2) after 4 2/3 innings.

It appeared to be more than enough offense as Buchholz was cruising with an 11-1 lead before getting tagged for five runs in the seventh. Coco Crisp hit a bases-loaded single with two outs, driving in the first runs Buchholz allowed since the first inning. Reddick, playing his first game in Boston since the Red Sox traded him in the offseason, followed with a homer to cut Boston’s lead to 11-6. Buchholz pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on seven hits while striking out five and walking five.

Reliever Junichi Tazawa allowed a single, then hit a batter before an error by third baseman Nick Punto on a popup loaded the bases. Vicente Padilla replaced Tazawa and got a mock cheer when he threw a strike after falling behind 2-0 against Daric Barton. Padilla came up with two more strikes to get Barton looking and finally end the A’s rally.

Oakland loaded the bases again in the eighth with nobody out, but failed to score a run. Crisp struck out, then Reddick grounded to second for a double play. The A’s left 10 runners on base.

“We had the bases loaded right there. One base hit, it’s a whole different game,” Melvin said. “We’re one hit away from making it less than a grand slam.”

Brandon Inge, released by Detroit last week and signed by Oakland earlier Monday, went 1-for-3 with a walk in his debut for the A’s.

Ortiz hit a line drive into the Oakland bullpen for a solo homer in the second, then drove another one out with a towering fly in the fifth to put Boston up 7-1.

Reddick, a former Boston outfielder, backed up to the wall and got his glove on it, but couldn’t hang on and both the ball and Reddick ended up on the wrong side of the wall as Ortiz rounded the bases for his sixth homer of the season.

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MINNEAPOLIS — Cody Ross hit two home runs as the Boston Red Sox rallied for a 6-5 win over the Minnesota Twins on Monday night, snapping a five-game losing streak. Ross, who signed with Boston as a free agent in the offseason, cranked a two-run homer to tie the game 5-5 in the seventh, then added a solo shot in the ninth off Matt Capps (0-1). It was the eighth career multi-homer game for Ross. Daniel Bard (1-2) got the win for Boston, pitching out of a jam in the eighth. Alfredo Aceves pitched the ninth inning for his third save of the year, surrendering only a one-out single to Chris Parmelee. The Twins have lost three in a row. Trailing by two in the seventh, the Red Sox pulled even when Jarrod Saltalamacchia singled, then Ross lifted a long home run into the second deck in left field. Jon Lester started and went seven innings for Boston, but he is still looking for his first win of the season. He gave up five runs on six hits and four walks, striking out four. The Twins looked to be on the brink of taking the lead in the eighth when Jamey Carroll led off with a single into the right field corner. Ryan Sweeney misplayed the ball for a two-base error, and Carroll ended up on third with no outs. But Franklin Morales got Joe Mauer to bounce out, then gave way to Bard. Josh Willingham lined out, and Bard intentionally walked Justin Morneau before getting Ryan Doumit to pop out to shortstop, ending the threat. Jason Marquis started for Minnesota and gave up five runs in 6 1/3 innings. The Red Sox got on the board early, as leadoff hitter Mike Aviles singled, advanced to third on a single by Dustin Pedroia and scored on a sacrifice fly by Adrian Gonzalez. After David Ortiz singled and Kevin Youkilis reached on a fielder’s choice in the second, Jarrod Saltalamacchia plopped his second homer of the season into the front row of the right field seats, giving Boston a 3-0 lead. Lester cruised through the first three innings, but he hit a snag with one out in the fourth. Mauer’s single was followed by a Willingham walk. After Lester struck out Morneau, Doumit doubled to score Mauer and Willingham. Three pitches later, Danny Valencia blasted his first homer of the season into the Red Sox bullpen in deep left-center field, giving Minnesota a 4-3 lead. An inning later, Carroll bounced into the Twins’ big-league-leading 19th double play of the season, but it brought in a run. Trevor Plouffe scored from third base, putting the Twins up 5-3. NOTES: Center fielder Marlon Byrd made his Red Sox debut after coming to Boston in a trade with the Cubs on Saturday night. … Twins catcher Mauer threw out Pedroia on an attempted steal of second base in the first inning. Previously, runners had been 10-for-10 when attempting to run on Mauer this season. … Red Sox utility infielder Nick Punto made his return to Target Field but did not play. Punto spent seven seasons with the Twins.