Big Papi to the rescue: Ortiz beats Phils (again) in 12th

BOSTON (AP) -- Playing against the National League put David Ortiz in postseason form.

The Red Sox slugger beat the Philadelphia Phillies in extra innings for the second consecutive game, singling home the winning run in the 12th for an 8-7 victory on Monday and extending Boston's winning streak to nine games.

Elias Says
David Ortiz had a 12th-inning game-ending single Monday after hitting a walkoff home run in the last Red Sox game on Saturday. Ortiz is the second player with game-ending RBI in consecutive games this season; Nomar Garciaparra did it May 5-6 vs. Brewers. No Red Sox player has done that since Butch Hobson against the Angels on August 27-28, 1978. • For more Elias Says, Click here.

It was the 10th regular-season, game-ending hit of Ortiz's career and the third in Boston's last eight home games. He also had three in the 2004 postseason en route to Boston's first World Series title in 86 years.

"He's unbelievable. You just know he's coming through," said outfielder Coco Crisp, who also saw Ortiz hit a 10th-inning homer on Saturday. "You're just waiting for the opportunity to jump over the little gate in the dugout and be the first to greet him."

Boston led 6-0 after six and 6-5 in the ninth before Chase Utley homered off the Pesky Pole in right to force extra innings. The Phillies took a 7-6 lead in the 12th on Jimmy Rollins' RBI double, but Crisp doubled and scored on Kevin Youkilis' single to make it 7-7.

Mark Loretta walked, then Ortiz lined a 1-2 pitch to left-center. Ortiz, who leads the AL with 68 RBI, was mobbed by his teammates between first and second after Youkilis came around to score. Boston manager Terry Francona said it's what the team has come to expect.

"It's almost unfair," he said. "But you feel so confident in his ability to do those types of things."

Craig Hansen (1-0) earned his first major league victory for the Red Sox, who have swept three consecutive three-game series -- all against interleague foes. He pitched two-thirds of an inning and gave up Rollins' double.

Clay Condrey (1-2) allowed two runs on three hits and a walk while getting two outs. Rollins had a bases-loaded triple in the seventh and drove in four runs, but the Phillies have lost 13 of 16 games to fall 12 games behind the first-place New York Mets in the NL East.

Boston had swept Atlanta and Washington before finishing off the Phillies in a makeup of Sunday's rainout. The Mets and Pedro Martinez return to Fenway Park on Tuesday night, and Boston had members of its 1986 World Series-losing team at the stadium to discuss plans to honor their 20th anniversary on Tuesday.

The '86 team, which blew a chance to beat the Mets in the Series when Mookie Wilson's grounder went through Bill Buckner's legs, was looking on when near-perfect rookie closer Jonathan Papelbon allowed Utley's solo homer in the ninth to tie it.

"I thought when we came in and scored that run we had a pretty good chance," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "We just couldn't hold them. Right now, I don't know what we can do. It just seems to backfire on us."

Shane Victorino led off the 12th with a single to center, then moved to second on David Bell's sacrifice bunt and to third on Chris Coste's groundout. Rollins lined a double off the Green Monster to give the Phillies their first lead.

Rollins had three hits, and so did Coste, who was playing in just his 10th major league game.

Crisp had three hits, and Ortiz went 1-for-4 with two RBI. Ortiz had an RBI groundout in the sixth, when Boston sent 12 batters to the plate to break a scoreless tie.

The Phillies answered with five in the top of the seventh, but Mike Timlin struck out pinch-hitter Pat Burrell with runners on first and second to end the inning.

Game notes
The Red Sox released LHP Mike Holtz. ... Aaron Rowand went 1-for-3 against Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield and is 11-for-17 versus the knuckleballer. ... The Phillies had three players on injury rehab: RHP Jon Lieber (strained left groin) will pitch on Tuesday night, Mike Lieberthal was to catch on Monday night, and LHP Randy Wolf (left elbow ligament surgery) was to throw on Monday night. ... Wakefield held the Phillies scoreless through six before they chased him in the seventh. He allowed three runs, five hits and two walks, striking out four. ... Phillies right-hander Cory Lidle allowed four runs, five hits and three walks. He struck out five in 5 1-3 innings. ... Philadelphia used seven pitchers, but Arthur Rhodes was not available for personal reasons.