BOSTON (AP) -Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz hit his 50th home run of the season on Wednesday night, tying the franchise record that stood since Jimmie Foxx set it in 1938.

Ortiz homered off Minnesota's Boof Bonser over the Boston bullpen in right-center with two outs in the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie. He circled the bases to the strains of ``Simply the Best'' while his teammates applauded from the top of the dugout.

Fans continued to cheer until he came back out of the

At this rate, it won't be long before the Minnesota Twins take over the AL Central lead.

Justin Morneau had a career-high five hits, Jason Bartlett and Torii Hunter homered, and the Twins beat the Boston Red Sox 7-3 Tuesday night to close within a half-game of the division-leading Detroit Tigers.

``We keep getting closer and closer a little bit every day,'' Morneau said. ``The only thing we can really control is if we win, and the rest will take care of itself. But we're in a good spot ri

BOSTON (AP) -Boston Red Sox outfielders Manny Ramirez and Coco Crisp missed Sunday's game against the Kansas City Royals with injuries.

Ramirez sat with a sore right knee while Crisp was out with an injured left index finger. Both are expected to return Tuesday in Baltimore following Monday's off day.

Ramirez was on the original lineup card batting fourth and playing left field, but manager Terry Francona replaced him with Wily Mo Pena three hours before the game.

``He said it hurts tod

BOSTON (AP) -Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz returned to Fenway Park, confident that wearing a heart monitor for a few days will hasten his return to the lineup.

Ortiz held a press conference with team physician Thomas Gill before Saturday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays.

``The most important thing right now is that I have no problem with my heart,'' Ortiz said. ``The doctors told me 'Your heart is fine. We're just going to keep tracking.'''

Ortiz was released from Massachusetts

BOSTON (AP) -Boston Red Sox rookie pitcher Jon Lester has a form of lymphoma and will start treatment in the coming week, the team said Friday.

Enlarged lymph nodes were identified when Lester, 22, was tested to determine the cause of back pain that sent him to the disabled list last Monday. The club said Friday he has a treatable form of anaplastic large cell lymphoma, a type of cancer that forms in the body's lymph system.

Manager Terry Francona visited Lester in the hospital on Thursda

``The way the West is, every team is one good week from being in the running,'' Giants reliever Mike Stanton said.

In the American League, the Yankees turned a four-game deficit on July 4 into an eight-game lead as the Boston Red Sox plummeted due to poor pitching and health problems with David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez and Jason Varitek.

Detroit, baseball's biggest surprise, won its first three games after the All-Star break and stood at 62-29. But the Tigers are 21-22 sinc

BOSTON (AP) -The Boston Red Sox obtained right-hander Kevin Jarvis from Arizona for a player to be named or cash and assigned him to Triple-A Pawtucket on Thursday night.

The 37-year-old Jarvis was 0-1 with an 11.91 ERA in five games with the Diamondbacks this season and joins his 10th major league organization. In his major league career, he is 34-48 with a 6.05 ERA in 183 appearances.

In 15 games, 13 of them starts, with Triple-A Tucson this year Jarvis was 3-6 with a 3.44 ERA.

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CINCINNATI (AP) -The Cincinnati Reds sent right-hander Mike Burns to the Boston Red Sox on Monday, getting right-hander Tim Bausher and cash in a swap of relievers.

Bausher, 27, went 4-3 with a 4.91 ERA in two starts and 35 relief appearances at Triple-A Pawtucket. He was invited to Boston's camp last spring, and was assigned to the minors on March 14.

Burns, 28, was optioned to Triple-A Louisville on June 26 after compiling an 8.78 ERA in 11 relief appearances. He was 6-1 with a 1.75 ERA

BOSTON RED SOX-Recalled RHP Jermaine Van Buren from Pawtucket of the IL. Designated RHP Rudy Seanez for assignment.

NEW YORK YANKEES-Placed INF Andy Phillips went on the 15-day DL. Recalled RHP T.J. Beam and OF Aaron Guiel from Columbus of the IL. Purchased the contract of RHP Jeff Karstens from Columbus. Optioned RHP Brian Bruney to Columbus. Designated RHP Sidney Ponson for assignment.National League

HOUSTON ASTROS-Placed RHP Brandon Backe on the 15-day DL. Recalled LHP Wandy Rodriguez

TORONTO (AP) -The Toronto Blue Jays traded outfielder Eric Hinske and $2.8 million to the Boston Red Sox on Thursday for a player to be determined.

Hinske, who also can play first and third, is hitting .264 with 12 home runs and 29 RBIs. Boston is assuming the $1.1 million left on his contract this season.

Toronto is paying half of his $5.6 million salary next season.

The emergence of right fielder Alex Rios, left fielder Reed Johnson and the offseason acquisitions of third baseman Troy