MINNEAPOLIS - Even after all these years, David Ortiz is still tormenting the Minnesota Twins.

Whether it was launching a home run nearly 440 feet into the stands in right-center field or barreling down the third base line to strike fear into catcher Joe Mauer, the Boston Red Sox slugger put his finger prints all over his latest victory over his former team.

Ortiz had four hits and three RBIs and delivered the go-ahead single with two outs in the ninth inning to lift the Red Sox to an 8-6 victory over the Twins on Monday night.

"I've been gone for years already," Ortiz said, insisting there's no hard feelings about being let go. "In this business, sometimes you're right and sometimes you're wrong. One thing I would say about the Twins organization is I always thank them for giving me the opportunity to come play at this level."

Ortiz hit a two-run homer in the sixth and finished a triple shy of the cycle. Jarrod Saltalamacchia added a homer and two RBIs to help the Red Sox win for the fifth time in seven games and move 1 games ahead of the idle Yankees in the AL East.

Ortiz debuted with the Twins in 1997, but injuries prevented him from realizing his full potential, so the Twins let him leave after 2002. It wasn't until he arrived in Boston in 2003 that he blossomed, becoming 'Big Papi', one of the most feared hitters in the game.

He's been making the Twins pay ever since. In 42 career games against them, Ortiz is hitting .327 with 11 homers and 31 RBIs.

"Of course you get a little excited when you play the team you've played for before," Ortiz said. "But you go with the same intensity against everybody."

Marco Scutaro chipped in with three hits for Boston and Jonathan Papelbon worked a perfect ninth for his 25th save.

Jason Kubel had a homer among his three hits and two RBIs for the Twins, who have lost five straight.

Associated Press

(China Daily 08/10/2011 page24)