BOSTON — Hanley Ramirez homered three times and drove in a career-high six runs and the Boston Red Sox held on for a 11-7 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday night even though newly acquired starter Drew Pomeranz struggled to protect an eight-run lead.

Boston won for the eighth time in nine games and moved into first place in the AL East, a half-game ahead of the Baltimore Orioles.

[naviga:h3]Cubs 6, Mets 2[/naviga:h3]

CHICAGO — Anthony Rizzo homered twice off Bartolo Colon, Kyle Hendricks pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings and Chicago beat New York to take two of three in the rematch of last year’s NL Championship Series.

Rizzo pulled a slider to right for a solo homer in the third. Two innings later with a runner on, he sent a fastball into the right-field bleachers.

[naviga:h3]Cards 4-3, Padres 2-2[/naviga:h3]

ST. LOUIS — Jedd Gyorko homered for the fifth straight game off San Diego pitching, connecting twice and driving in all three RBIs in a 3-2 victory to give St. Louis a doubleheader sweep.

Gyorko, dealt by the Padres in the offseason for outfielder Jon Jay, is 13 for 21 (.619) against his old team with six homers and 10 RBIs. He has 11 homers and 27 RBIs on the year with 40 starts spread across the infield. He started at third base in both games of the doubleheader.

[naviga:h3]Nationals 8, Dodgers 1[/naviga:h3]

WASHINGTON — Bryce Harper led an offensive outburst with a home run into the third deck in right field and Washington beat Los Angeles.

Harper’s 20th home run of the season, a two-run blast, traveled an estimated 451 feet off Bud Norris in the first inning. The National League MVP later walked and scored on Wilson Ramos’ RBI double.

[naviga:h3]Indians 11, Royals 4[/naviga:h3]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Tyler Naquin hit two of the Indians’ five homers and had a career-high six RBIs, helping Cleveland rout Kansas City.

Carlos Carrasco (7-3) only allowed one hit in six shutout innings, a one-out double by Cheslor Cuthbert in the fourth walked two in the sixth for his only other baserunners.

[naviga:h3]Blue Jays 10, D’Backs 4[/naviga:h3]

PHOENIX — Josh Donaldson and Edwin Encarnacion each hit two-run homers and Toronto beat Arizona.

Donaldson’s homer off Patrick Corbin (4-9) landed in the Chase Field swimming pool in the first inning. Encarnacion’s soaring shot off Daniel Hudson, projected at 471 feet, landed far down the walkway beyond the left field seats in the eighth.

[naviga:h3]Twins 4, Tigers 1[/naviga:h3]

DETROIT — Max Kepler and Eddie Rosario homered off Francisco Rodriguez in the ninth and Minnesota Twins scored three runs in the inning to beat Detroit.

Detroit wasted a fine start by Justin Verlander, who gave up a run and two hits in eight innings.

[naviga:h3]Yankees 5, Orioles 0[/naviga:h3]

NEW YORK — Michael Pineda pitched six innings, Mark Teixeira homered in his return from his latest injury, and New York beat Baltimore to move two games above .500 for the first time since April.

Pineda (4-9) had six strikeouts with runners in scoring position and didn’t allow a run for the first time all season.

[naviga:h3]Mariners 6, White Sox 5[/naviga:h3]

SEATTLE — Leonys Martin hit his second home run of the game, a solo shot with one out in the 11th inning that sent Seattle past Chicago.

[naviga:h3]Reds 6, Braves 5[/naviga:h3]

CINCINNATI — Tucker Barnhart and Joey Votto hit two-run homers, and Cincinnati rallied to beat Atlanta to win the season series between the NL’s worst teams.

[naviga:h3]Phillies 4, Marlins 1[/naviga:h3]

PHILADELPHIA — Jeremy Hellickson struck out eight in eight innings, Tyler Goeddel hit a two-run homer and Philadelphia beat Miami.

[naviga:h3]Astros 7, A’s 0[/naviga:h3]

OAKLAND, Calif. — Doug Fister pitched seven innings and Jose Altuve continued his torrid hitting to help Houston beat Oakland.

[naviga:h3]Angels 7, Rangers 4[/naviga:h3]

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Jefry Marte hit a three-run homer and the Angels shut down a late rally by the AL West-leading Texas Rangers for a win that gave Los Angeles a three-game sweep.

[naviga:h3]Rays 11, Rockies 3[/naviga:h3]

DENVER — Chris Archer struck out 11 over six innings for his first victory since June 6. Tim Beckham had a career-high five hits.