Drew, Middlebrooks homer as BoSox top Giants 12-1

[August 22, 2013]  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Stephen Drew and Will Middlebrooks each hit a home run, Jonny Gomes and Jarrod Saltalamacchia drove in two runs apiece and the Boston Red Sox beat the San Francisco Giants 12-1 on Wednesday.

Felix Doubront (9-6) rebounded from a tough outing to pitch eight strong innings for the Red Sox, who have won three of five and entered play in a virtual first-place tie with Tampa Bay in the AL East. Doubront gave up one run on five hits. He walked one and struck out three.

Joaquin Arias homered among his two hits for the Giants, who have lost three of four.

Barry Zito (4-9) lasted 3 2-3 innings in his first start since July 30. He allowed six runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out three.

Jacoby Ellsbery and Shane Victorino each had three hits for Boston, with Victorino driving in a run. Ellsbery scored twice and got his league-leading 46th stolen base. Dustin Pedroia added two hits and drove in a run.

Doubront, who allowed seven runs in four innings in his last start, has allowed three runs or fewer in 17 of his last 18 outings. After giving up Arias' homer in the second, Doubront retired 14 of the next 15 hitters.

The Giants have allowed 10 runs or more in four interleague games, their most in any season.

Zito, the 2002 Cy Young winner, is 0-25 in 29 games in which he has allowed six or more runs in a San Francisco uniform. He never allowed more than six runs in a game with the Oakland Athletics.

NOTES: Doubront has given up one run in 15 innings against the NL West. ... Red Sox INF David Ortiz left the game with lower back tightness after striking out in the fifth. ... RHP John Lackey (8-10, 3.22 ERA) will start for Boston when it opens a series against the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Friday night. ... Zito owns a career mark of 5-7, with a 5.52 ERA, in 15 games against the Red Sox. ... RHP Matt Cain (8-8, 4.35) will start for the Giants on Thursday night against Pittsburgh. ... Ellsbury has hit safely in all 15 of Boston's interleague games and is batting .435 (28 for 64) against NL clubs.

[Associated Press; By RICK EYMER]

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