Baseball: Schilling wins his 18 as Red Sox's win

The Boston Red Sox put themselves in great position for a run at the AL East-leading New York Yankees with a great homestand. Now, they'll have to take their winning ways on the road.

Curt Schilling pitched into the ninth inning for his major league-leading 18th win, David Ortiz hit his 35th homer and the Red Sox held on for a 6-5 win over the Texas Rangers on Sunday.

The Red Sox, who had their 10-game winning streak snapped Saturday, completed a 9-1 homestand and remained 2 1/2 games behind the Yankees. Boston, which opens a seven-game road trip Monday at AL West-leading Oakland, has won 17 of its last 19 overall, and 12 of its last 13 at Fenway.

"Phenomenal homestand," Schilling said. "We played such good baseball in every aspect. I just feel like we are such a good team right now that we can win with pitching, hitting, defense, bullpen ... whatever it needs, whatever you need to do on a given night to win, and that's what championship teams do."

Schilling (18-6) allowed three runs and five hits in 8 1-3 innings, struck out 10 and didn't walk a batter in winning his fifth straight start. He fanned the final batter in the second through seventh innings, and improved to 10-1 at Fenway this season.

Boston, which gained eight games on the Yankees in 19 days, likes its chances in the final four weeks.

"I think (gaining ground) came a little quicker than we expected," Boston outfielder Johnny Damon said. "We'll take being 2 1/2 behind the Yankees now."

The Yankees beat Baltimore 4-3 on Sunday.

"We did what we have to do this homestand," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "We have to go out, take care of business and take advantage of what we've done so far."

It was Schilling's third game this season with 10 or more strikeouts, and 89th of his career. He was going for his fourth complete game of the season and 83rd of his career, but Eric Young singled with one out in the ninth and Michael Young hit his 18th homer to end the right-hander's day.

After the fans in Fenway turned their attention to the left-field scoreboard, chanting "Let's Go Orioles!" when the Red Sox took a 6-1 lead, it got a little tight in the ninth.

Keith Foulke came in and gave up two runs on pinch-hitter David Dellucci's two-run single with two outs before getting Kevin Mench to line out to second to end it.

"We got real close at the end," Texas manager Buck Showalter said. "Curt is not the type of guy you like to see get a run up there early. It's that time of year. Guys like him and (Pedro) Martinez do what they do."

Michael Young homered twice for the Rangers, who fell seven games behind the AL wild card-leading Red Sox. It was Young's fifth career multihomer game, and first this season.

"We met a hot Boston team with a great pitcher on the mound," Young said. "The best thing we can do is put this behind us."

Boston took a 1-0 lead on in the second inning when Kevin Millar singled, advanced on Orlando Cabrera's double and scored on Bill Mueller's ground out.

Ryan Drese (11-8) took the loss, allowing four runs and seven hits in six innings.

The Red Sox made it 3-0 in the third. Manny Ramirez singled, Ortiz doubled and Jason Varitek was walked intentionally to load the bases. Drese walked Millar to force home a run and Cabrera had a sacrifice fly.

Schilling retired the first 10 he faced before Young homered over the Green Monster seats, cutting it to 3-1 in the fourth.

Ortiz homered in the bottom of the inning, a towering drive over the Rangers' bullpen on a 3-0 pitch, to make it 4-1.

Gabe Kapler's bases-loaded, two-run single off reliever R. A. Dickey made it 6-1 in the seventh.