OAKLAND, Calif. -- David Ortiz saved his only hit for a key moment for the Boston Red Sox. Ortiz connected for a leadoff home run in the 10th inning, and the Red Sox beat the Oakland Athletics 7-6 on Sunday to avoid a four-game series sweep. "I like to go out there and make things happen," Ortiz said. "Weve had a good game, had a good series and then we go back to struggles. So hopefully everything changes at some point." Ortiz was the only Boston starter without a hit until he lined a 1-2 pitch from Fernando Abad (2-3) over the wall in left-centre for his 17th homer. The Red Sox had to go extra innings after letting a 6-1 lead slip away. The As scored three runs in the eighth, and then homered twice in the ninth against Koji Uehara (3-1). The closer had converted 31 consecutive save opportunities dating to 2013. "Im getting hit on day games," Uehara said through an interpreter. "I think its because Im old. Im not woken up." The Red Sox pulled within 6 1/2 games of first-place Toronto in the AL East. New York and Baltimore are 1 1/2 games back. Ortizs homer came four days after the designated hitter belted a tying drive in the 10th inning of a 2-1 victory against Minnesota. "He does have the knack for the moment," Boston manager John Farrell said. "More than anything he stays at rest or at peace mentally in those key spots and doesnt miss his pitch when he gets it." Mike Napoli and David Ross also homered for Boston, which had been limited to two runs or fewer in eight consecutive games. Napoli scored another run as part of a double steal, and former As player Jonny Gomes added a two-run single. Oaklands late surge negated a strong outing by Boston starter Jon Lester. Lester, who had a career-high 15 strikeouts against the As earlier this season, allowed two earned runs and four hits over 7 2-3 innings. He struck out four and walked two. The veteran left-hander left after hitting Craig Gentry and walking Jed Lowrie with two outs in the eighth. Burke Badenhop came in and gave up three consecutive RBI singles to make it 6-4 before Andrew Miller got pinch-hitter Coco Crisp to line out to shortstop. Uehara, who had the longest successful save streak in the majors, blew a shot at extending his impressive run when he yielded home runs by Stephen Vogt and pinch-hitter John Jaso. "Thats a good example of the kind of grit and determination this team has," said Oakland closer Sean Doolittle, who grounded out to second as a pinch hitter in the 10th. "Night after night it seems like its only a matter of time before our offence finds a way to come through and push some runs across." Oakland catcher Derek Norris had to leave the game in the 10th after a frightening situation when he was hit in the back of the head by Gomes bat on a follow-through swing. Norris immediately dropped to the ground as home plate Greg Gibson quickly called for As trainers. Norris was eventually helped to his feet and walked to the dugout. He was taken to a hospital as precaution and was scheduled to undergo a CAT scan. Boston broke out of its week-long scoring slump and got to Tommy Milone after loading the bases with two outs in the first on two singles and a walk. Gomes two-run single put the Red Sox up 2-0. Ross, who homered off Milone earlier this season at Fenway Park, did it again on the first pitch in the second. NOTES: Oaklands last four-game sweep of Boston came in 1971 at Fenway Park. ... Oakland 1B Kyle Blanks left after getting thrown out at home in the second. Blanks has been nursing a calf strain and aggravated it while sliding into home plate. ... With two days off in the next week, the As plan to skip Sonny Grays turn in the rotation. Gray, who has yet to pitch a full season in the majors, has already logged a team-leading 99 innings. ... Boston OF Shane Victorino (right hamstring strain) took batting practice with Triple-A Pawtucket but did not play. .. Red Sox RHP John Lackey (8-4) pitches the series opener against Seattle on Monday. ... It was Oaklands eighth sellout of the season. Cheap Jerseys From China . There is no argument that the line of Pacioretty, David Desharnais and Thomas Vanek was one of the hottest in the NHL leading into the post-season, and they did combine for three goals and seven points, but it was the depth of all four lines that helped propel Montreal. China Jerseys Stitched .com) - Generally you want to be the guy who replaces the guy who replaced the legend. https://www.chinajerseyscheap.us/ . The injury could land Machado on the 15-day disabled list, but its not as serious as it looked on Monday night, when the third baseman crumpled in a heap at the plate after taking an awkward swing in a game against the New York Yankees. China Jerseys Cheap . Earnshaw, 31, most recently spent time on loan in Israel with Maccabi Tel Aviv from Welsh club Cardiff City, which plays in Englands second-tier League Championship. Earnshaw began his career with Cardiff Citys youth program and turned professional in 1998. China Jerseys Wholesale . Jim Leyland, in his eighth playoffs, has never had a starting rotation he trusts as much as the grouping of Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, Anibal Sanchez and Doug Fister.TAMPA, Fla. -- Theres nothing like winning to bring hope for a struggling team. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers opened the season with eight consecutive losses, but woke up Tuesday feeling better about themselves and the direction of whats been a disappointing season. The Bucs (1- became the last NFL team to win with a 22-19 victory over the embattled Miami Dolphins on Monday night, and coach Greg Schiano believes his players have the mettle to build on that success. "The thing you feel good about is our guys are learning through this adversity, not just trying to get through it," Schiano said Tuesday. Rookie Mike Glennon led a long fourth-quarter touchdown drive to put Tampa Bay ahead for good, and a defence that was unable to protect late leads in four of the clubs eight losses limited the Dolphins to 2 yards rushing. The Tampa Bay defence eliminated any chance for a Miami comeback with two timely sacks and an interception within a span of four plays to close out the win. After losing four times in the final 89 seconds or regulation or overtime, "We knew it was going to be on us. Everybody stepped up," said linebacker Lavonte David, who had seven tackles, one of them dropping Miamis Daniel Thomas for a second-quarter safety. Even Schiano said Monday night had a familiar feel after the Dolphins rallied from a 15-point deficit to take a 19-15 lead into the fourth quarter. The Bucs have lost four times in the final 89 seconds of regulation and overtime, including the previous week when they squandered a 21-point lead before falling in OT at Seattle. This time, Glennon regained the lead with an 80-yard drive that running back Bobby Rainey finished with a 1-yard run, and the defence put it away. "I dont care who you were in that stadium, there was part of you that said: Oh no, again? Schiano said. "And for our players to bow their necks, especially that (long TD) drive ... and then getting back and playing defence that last set to win the game was important," Schiano added, "because when we took the field, it was very clear: you stop them, you win." David was determined the defeence would not crumble.dddddddddddd "Right at the two-minute warning, I came in, brung the guys in and said: It aint going to happen again, man," David said. "Weve got to make all this stuff end right here, right now. Thats what happened." Schiano said now that the Bucs have won, players should be able to relax and perform without pressing for results. "Hopefully that kind of relieves some pressure off the guys and they can just go out and play," the second-year coach said. "Getting it out of the way, I dont care who you are, as the losses mount getting that (first) one win becomes harder and harder (to get)," Schiano added. "I hope now that our guys can just go out and play. Although theyve said theres no additional pressure, I think human nature puts that pressure on yourself." One of the keys to beating Miami, which was playing its first game since the start of a bullying scandal thats engulfed the Dolphins locker room, was a productive running game that took pressure off Glennon, who completed 11 of 21 passes for 139 yards, one touchdown and an interception. With 2012 Pro Bowl running back Doug Martin out for the season with a shoulder injury, Mike James made his third pro start. The rookie ran for 158 yards the previous week against the Seahawks and was off to another fast start with 41 yards on five carries when he broke his left ankle in the first quarter. Despite losing James, offensive co-ordinator Mike Sullivan remained committed to the run with Rainey and Brian Leonard combining for 102 yards on 28 carries. Tampa Bay finished with 140 yards on the ground after gaining a season-high 205 against the Seahawks. "Our offensive line, the credit goes to them -- persistent, believing what theyre doing, and the running backs running the plays the way theyre supposed to," Schiano said. "Were banged up, playing without a lot of the original starters, but again there are still a lot of good players out there playing," the coach added. "Were going to have a chance to win every football game. Weve just got to go out and execute." ' ' '