ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Boston Red Sox flexed their muscles, nudging closer to first place in the AL East.

The defending World Series champions homered a season-high six times, overwhelming All-Star Scott Kazmir and division-leading Tampa Bay, 13-5, last night to pull within percentage points (.002) of ending the Rays' two-month stay atop the standings.

"These guys have been playing well all year long, and we haven't been playing well here at all," Boston reliever Mike Timlin said after the Red Sox won for the first time in seven games at Tropicana Field this season.

David Ortiz, Mike Lowell, Jason Bay, Jason Varitek, Kevin Youkilis and Jacoby Ellsbury homered for the Red Sox, who jumped on Kazmir (11-7) for four runs in the first inning and never let up.

"That was just a good old-fashioned whippin' tonight," Rays manager Joe Maddon said.

The Rays (88-60) went 21-7 in August and were a season-high 5 1/2 games up on Boston heading into September. They're 4-9 this month, with six of the losses coming against the Red Sox and Yankees, who took two of three from Tampa Bay over the weekend.

The Red Sox (89-61), on the other hand, have won three straight and 10 of 14 in September.

Daisuke Matsuzaka (17-2) become the first Japanese-born pitcher to win 17 games in a season. The right-hander allowed one run and three hits in five innings with two walks and seven strikeouts.

Rangers 11, Tigers 8: Rookie Taylor Teagarden had his first career grand slam and a career-high five RBIs, Michael Young hit a tiebreaking single and host Texas handed Detroit its fifth straight loss. Detroit carried an 8-7 lead into the eighth, but Texas took the lead against Kyle Farnsworth (2-3) on Teagarden's RBI double and Young's go-ahead single. Marlon Byrd's two-run triple later in the eighth extended Texas' advantage to 11-8.

Yankees 4, White Sox 2: Mariano Rivera moved into second place on the career saves list and host New York beat Chicago. New York got a two-run homer from Xavier Nady in the second and a tiebreaking double by pinch-hitter Wilson Betemit in the seventh. Rivera got three quick outs in the ninth for his 36th save in 37 chances this season and No. 479 of his career, passing Lee Smith for second place.

Royals 3, Mariners 0: Kyle Davies matched a career high with eight strikeouts in eight innings and combined with closer Joakim Soria on a four-hitter, lifting host Kansas City over Seattle. Davies (7-7) didn't allow a hit until Jose Lopez lined a high fastball into right for a single leading off the fifth.

Indians 3, Twins 1: Scott Lewis pitched six shutout innings in his second career start and host Cleveland beat Minnesota. Lewis (2-0) has yet to allow a run in 14 innings since being called up from the minors Sept. 7. The left-hander allowed three hits and two walks.