Big Papi returns, Red Sox rout Rangers

Big Papi is back in the Boston lineup, and the Red Sox are back in first place.

David Ortiz had an RBI single on the first pitch he saw in 10 days and scored twice in his return as the Red Sox had another convincing victory over the AL West-leading Texas Rangers, 13-2, last night in Arlington, Texas.

"I felt normal. Everything was good," Ortiz said. "Early in the season we didn't do well against nobody. But we've got a good team that knows how to compete."

Carl Crawford, Jacoby Ellsbury and Adrian Gonzalez hit two-run homers in consecutive innings for Boston, which moved one game ahead after the Yankees lost, 6-4, in 10 innings to Oakland.

Mariners 9, Indians 2: Felix Hernandez shook off banging his head while trying to make a fielding play and struck out 10, Wily Mo Peña drove in four runs and visiting Seattle became the first team to knock Josh Tomlin (12-7) out before the sixth in his career.

Cubs 3, Braves 2: Randy Wells pitched effectively into the seventh for host Chicago and held the Braves to one run and two hits over 62/3 innings.

Dodgers 9, Cardinals 4: Juan Rivera homered and had three RBIs as Los Angeles completed its first road sweep of the season. The Cardinals were outscored 24-7 in the Dodgers' first three-game sweep in St. Louis since Aug. 20-22, 1993.

Rockies 7, Astros 6: Troy Tulowitzki scored from third on a wild pitch in the bottom of the 10th as host Colorado won its fifth straight.

The win overshadowed Colorado facing Houston starter Wandy Rodriguez. Multiple media outlets reported Tuesday that Rodriguez was claimed off waivers by Colorado. The Houston Chronicle reported that after yesterday's game the Astros pulled Rodriguez off waivers when they couldn't work out a trade with the Rockies.

Giants claim Bell

San Diego closer Heath Bell was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants, although even he is skeptical about whether he will actually end up with the defending World Series champions.

San Diego has 48 hours from the time Bell was claimed to decide whether to trade the three-time All-Star, allow him to be claimed or pull him back from waivers. Giants general manager Brian Sabean might also just be trying to block NL West-leading Arizona -- under first-year general manager and former Padres GM Kevin Towers -- from landing Bell.

-- AP