BOSTON — The triple play that wasn't would have been just what the Twins needed to get out of trouble. When the outs all disappeared, so did Minnesota's chances of avoiding a sweep in Boston.

Dustin Pedroia hit a three-run double as the Red Sox scored seven times in the seventh inning — all of them after a triple play was taken off the board — and Boston beat Minnesota, 18-5, yesterday to complete a three-game sweep.

Jacoby Ellsbury had a career-high four hits, and Manny Ramirez, Kevin Youkilis and Sean Casey had three apiece to help Boston set season highs for hits (23) and runs. The Twins loaded the bases in the seventh and failed to score, but they trailed just 7-5 in the bottom half when they appeared to escape a jam on what was initially ruled a triple play.

"I know what the score ended up being, but the game wasn't played like that," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "We're a pitcher away from that game going either way."

The Red Sox had runners on second and third when Jason Varitek hit a sinking liner to center and Denard Span slid for the ball, backhanding it and then holding up his glove as if he caught it. The base runners took off and, after the umpires belatedly signaled a catch, Span threw to second to double off Casey.

Second baseman Alexi Casilla leisurely threw to third to get Mike Lowell, who had already crossed the plate. (Lowell appeared to have tagged up, but he was rung up anyway.)

While the umpires conferred, official scorer Mike Petraglia announced that the play was an 8-4-5 triple play, "for now."

The call was reversed — correctly, replays confirmed — and irate Twins manager Ron Gardenhire came out of the dugout for an argument that led to a quick ejection.

"I'm not going to tell you guys what I think," said Gardenhire, whose team had won 16 of 18 before coming to Fenway Park. "Every time I say what I say, I get in trouble."

Casey stayed at third and Varitek was credited with an RBI single that gave Boston an 8-5 lead. Craig Breslow relieved Boof Bonser and struck out Brandon Moss, but Julio Lugo walked to load the bases.

Ellsbury singled to drive in another run and, with Brian Bass pitching, Pedroia hit a double to left to clear the bases and extend his hitting streak to 17 games. Youkilis doubled and Ramirez followed with an RBI single to make it 14-5.

Kevin Cash hit a pinch-hit homer, Moss hit the first triple of his career and Youkilis homered in a four-run eighth to finish the scoring.

TIGERS 8, INDIANS 6

Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning as Detroit rallied from an early six-run deficit to win its third straight, while handing Cleveland its 10th straight loss.

YANKEES 2, RAYS 1

After Derek Jeter walked with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning, Bobby Abreu hit a double to right-center off Grant Balfour (2-1), who hadn't allowed a run in his previous 10 appearances, as New York won its fourth in a row while handing Tampa Bay its third consecutive loss.

BLUE JAYS 9, ORIOLES 8

Alex Rios and David Eckstein both drove in two runs during a seven-run fourth inning for a 7-1 lead, and host Toronto held on to beat Baltimore. B.J. Ryan's solo homer in the ninth made it 9-8 before Nick Markakis finished for his 17th save.

WHITE SOX 7, ROYALS 6

Carlos Quentin hit two two-run homers and visiting Chicago rallied from a five-run deficit, taking a 7-6 lead in the eighth inning when plate umpire Dan Iassogna called a balk on Ramon Ramirez that allowed Quentin to score the go-ahead run.

RANGERS 5, ANGELS 4

Josh Hamilton hit a two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth off major league saves leader Francisco Rodriguez (0-2) to lift Texas over Los Angeles. Hamilton's 20th homer of the season, and first since June 17, increased his major-league leading RBI total to 89.

MARINERS 6, ATHLETICS 4

Jose Lopez hit a three-run double, Adrian Beltre drove in two runs and Roy Corcoran (1-0) won his first big league game with 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief as visiting Seattle beat Oakland.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

PHILLIES 4, CARDINALS 2

Ryan Howard and Pedro Feliz hit solo homers in the eighth inning, and Brad Lidge retired Albert Pujols on a fly ball and struck out Rick Ankiel with two on in the ninth to earn his 20th save as Philadelphia ended a four-game losing streak.

METS 5, GIANTS 0

Johan Santana (8-7) spaced three hits over five innings before his night was cut short by a rain delay, three relievers finished the three-hitter, and Ramon Castro had a three-run homer to help host New York beat San Francisco for its fifth straight victory.

DODGERS 2, BRAVES 1

Derek Lowe (8-7) had perfect game until Gregor Blanco led off the seventh with a clean single to center and Matt Kemp homered to lead Los Angeles over Atlanta.

CUBS 5, REDS 1

Carlos Zambrano (10-3) allowed one hit over eight innings — a second-inning homer by Adam Dunn — and retired the final 20 batters, and Aramis Ramirez hit a solo homer in the sixth to break a 1-1 tie as Chicago beat Cincinnati.

ROCKIES 8, BREWERS 3

Colorado's Garrett Atkins hit two homers and Glendon Rusch (2-3) won as a starter for the first time since beating Milwaukee on July 9, 2006 in his last start for the Chicago Cubs.

NATIONALS 5, DIAMONDBACKS 0

John Lannan (5-9) allowed two hits in six innings, three relievers completed the three-hitter and Jesus Flores hit a three-run, pinch-hit homer in the sixth as host Washington snapped a six-game losing streak.

MARLINS 5, PADRES 2

Scott Olsen (5-4) allowed one run on four hits over eight innings, Mike Jacobs and Hanley Ramirez hit homers, and Kevin Gregg got two outs for his 17th save as visiting Florida beat San Diego to take two in the three-game series.

ASTROS 6, PIRATES 4

Geoff Blum hit a three-run homer in the first inning and Houston, which blew a four-run lead before scoring twice in the seventh, hung on to beat Pittsburgh and avoid a three-game sweep.