Red Sox's Lowe remains hot, allows just two hits to ChiSox

BOSTON -- Derek Lowe allowed two hits in eight innings just 23 days after pitching a no-hitter, leading the Boston Red Sox over the Chicago White Sox 9-0 Monday night.

Lowe (7-1) gave up a leadoff infield single to Kenny Lofton in the first inning and a two-out single to Jeff Liefer in the eighth. He faced only two batters over the minimum and lowered his AL-leading ERA to 1.90.

Lowe struck out seven, walked two and allowed just four balls out of the infield as Boston improved its record to 30-11, best in the majors.

Rich Garces pitched the ninth and finished the combined three-hitter.

The Red Sox got the runs they needed in a five-run fifth against Todd Ritchie (3-5). Shea Hillenbrand's three-run homer, his ninth of the year, landed in the first row of the right-field seats just to the left of the foul pole.

Jason Varitek added a two-run homer, his fourth, against Kelly Wunsch in the eighth.

Yankees 6, Blue Jays 3

NEW YORK -- Robin Ventura homered in his third straight game, a tiebreaking drive starting the seventh inning that led the New York Yankees over the Toronto Blue Jays for their 12th win in 13 games.

Bernie Williams got the Yankees going with a two-run homer in the first off Brandon Lyon, the fifth straight game New York has scored in the first inning.

Ventura added his 12th, a drive off the right-field foul pole that tied Toronto's Carlos Delgado and Texas' Alex Rodriguez for the AL lead.

The Yankees, who have won five in a row, have homered in 12 straight games and have 24 in their last eight, giving them a major league-leading 72.

Ramiro Mendoza (1-2) won in relief and Mariano Rivera got his 14th save.

Tigers 4, Indians 3

DETROIT -- Wendell Magee's tiebreaking single in the seventh inning gave the Detroit Tigers a victory over the Cleveland Indians and their first four-game winning streak of the year.

Detroit, which swept Texas over the weekend, helped itself by turning four double plays.

The Indians, who again hurt themselves with a key error, have lost four of five.

Julio Santana (3-0) picked up the win in relief. Jamie Walker pitched a scoreless ninth for his first career save.

Noteworthy

Red Sox: Manny Ramirez still might need surgery on his broken left index finger if tests later this week show that the fracture has spread, Boston's team doctor said Monday.

The AL batting leader has missed two weeks with the injury, which was expected to keep him out of the Red Sox lineup for 4-to-6 weeks. He's expected back from his Florida home this week when X-rays and a CAT scan will be done.

If surgery is required, Ramirez might miss at least four more weeks from the date of the operation.

Ramirez was hurt May 5 when he slid headfirst into home plate and hit his left hand on Seattle catcher Dan Wilson's shinguard.

-- From wire reports