BOSTON, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Derek Lowe carried a shutout into the eighth inning and David Ortiz hit a three-run homer Sunday as Boston took a 6-1 victory over Seattle.
Boston was in danger of falling dangerously behind other postseason contenders after enduring a stretch in which it lost nine of 13 games. But the Red Sox have responded by winning four in a row against the Oakland Athletics and Mariners, who are ahead of them in the standings.
Boston remained tied with Oakland in the wild card race and five games behind the first-place New York Yankees in the AL East Division.
Lowe (13-6), who left his last start with a blister, allowed one run and five hits in 7 1/3 innings. He overcame a season-high
five walks.
Seattle has lost five consecutive games for the first time since dropping six in a row from Sept. 9-14, 2001.
