Ortiz Scores Go-Ahead Run In Red Sox's 5-4 Victory Over Orioles

Wednesday, August 1st 2007, 9:41 pm

By: News On 6

BOSTON (AP) _ David Ortiz got a standing ovation from Kevin Garnett and thousands of other excited fans when he scored the go-ahead run in a four-run seventh inning that gave the Boston Red Sox a 5-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night.

On his first full day with the Boston Celtics, Garnett threw out the ceremonial first pitch then watched the game from a box high behind home plate.

Kevin Youkilis gave the Red Sox a 4-3 lead with a two-run double, scoring Dustin Pedroia and Ortiz. After racing across home plate, Ortiz pumped his fist and pointed at Garnett.

The 6-foot-11 forward _ wearing a blue Boston cap and white Red Sox jersey with his last name and number ``5'' on the back _ jumped out of his seat, clapping, smiling and pointing back at Ortiz.

The Celtics obtained Garnett in a 7-for-1 deal with Minnesota on Tuesday. Ortiz began his major league career with the Twins in 1997, two years after Garnett skipped college to play for the Timberwolves.

Orioles starter Steve Trachsel had left with a 3-1 lead after six innings, but relievers Paul Shuey and John Parrish (2-2) allowed the only two batters each faced to reach base.

Shuey left after walking Julio Lugo and allowing Pedroia's third single of the game. Parrish came in and Ortiz doubled in Lugo. Manny Ramirez was intentionally walked, loading the bases. Chad Bradford replaced Parrish and gave up Youkilis' double to right-center.

Jason Varitek added an RBI single for a 5-3 lead and Garnett was out of his seat again, smiling and swaying.

Javier Lopez (2-1) got the win and Jonathan Papelbon pitched the ninth for his 24th save in 26 chances after Hideki Okajima allowed Miguel Tejada's eighth homer of the season in the eighth.

Julian Tavarez started for Boston in place of Kason Gabbard, who was traded to Texas on Tuesday for reliever Eric Gagne, and retired the first two batters in each of the first four innings before allowing runners.

In the first, Nick Markakis hit his 11th homer for a 1-0 lead. The Orioles made it 3-0 in the second on consecutive RBI doubles by Chris Gomez and Brian Roberts.

Tavarez hit Tejada with a pitch in the third and walked Gomez in the fourth but neither runner advanced. He got out of a first-and-third jam in the fifth by getting Tejada to ground into a double play and was replaced by Kyle Snyder to start the sixth.

The Red Sox had plenty of opportunities in the first six innings. But Ramirez made the last out in three of them with a total of five men on base. Wily Mo Pena made the final out in two of those innings, stranding four runners.

Boston cut the lead to 3-1 in the third on Pedroia's sacrifice fly that scored Coco Crisp, who walked.

Notes: With Ortiz on second while Bradford was warming up in the seventh, he smiled and joked with Orioles infielders Roberts, Tejada and Kevin Millar, who congregated around him. ... Tavarez is 0-4 with a 7.31 ERA in his last six starts. He made three relief appearances after being sent to the bullpen on July 22. ... Trachsel is 0-3 in his last seven starts. He had a 9.22 RA in his previous six but didn't allow and earned run Wednesday.