The benches emptied, and Mike Lowell stuck around to really put a hurt on the Detroit Tigers.

After entering the game when Kevin Youkilis was ejected for charging the mound, Lowell hit two home runs last night to lead the Boston Red Sox past the visiting Detroit Tigers, 7-5.

"He starts out there watching and pretty quickly he's down there stretching and he ends up having a huge impact on the outcome of the game," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "That's not easy to do."

Lowell hit a solo homer in the third to break a 3-3 tie, then added a two-run shot in the fifth to make it 6-3. He also scored on Jason Bay's three-run homer after entering the game as a pinch-runner when Youkilis and Detroit starter Rick Porcello were ejected for sparking the second-inning melee.

"The important thing was: we answered back right away," said Lowell, the 2007 World Series MVP who has been part of a rotation at the corner infield positions since the Red Sox acquired Victor Martinez at the trading deadline.

Junichi Tazawa allowed three runs — just one earned — while walking two and striking out six in five innings in his first major-league start. In his only other appearance he lost to the New York Yankees on Friday after giving up Alex Rodriguez's two-run, game-ending homer in the 15th inning.

Chris Lambert (0-1) allowed five runs on five hits and four walks in five innings, striking out three in relief after Porcello hit Youkilis in apparent retaliation for Tazawa's plunking of Miguel Cabrera. Cabrera, who like Youkilis was also hit in the series opener on Monday night, later left the game with a bruise on his left hand.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland refused to answer questions about the second inning, and Porcello emerged from a meeting with Leyland and general manager Dave Dombrowski to say, "The only thing I have to say about that is I was not intentionally trying to hit Kevin Youkilis. It was unintentional."

Francona was ejected later in the second inning for arguing about a play at second base.

YANKEES 7, BLUE JAYS 5:

Hideki Matsui and Jorge Posada hit back-to-back homers leading off the eighth inning and host New York beat Toronto for its eighth win in nine games.

INDIANS 5, RANGERS 0:

Aaron Laffey remained undefeated at home for Cleveland. Laffey (6-3) allowed six hits and three walks in 6 2/3 innings. He is 4-0 with a 1.59 ERA in five home starts.

ORIOLES 3, ATHLETICS 2:

David Hernandez outpitched Trevor Cahill, and host Baltimore ended a nine-game losing streak against Oakland. Hernandez (4-4) allowed two runs, six hits and a walk in 6 2/3 innings.

ROYALS 14, TWINS 6:

Miguel Olivo homered and drove in three runs, and visiting Kansas City had its highest run total of the season.

ANGELS 6, RAYS 0:

Ervin Santana pitched a three-hitter for his first home win of the season, and Jeff Mathis hit a three-run double for host Los Angeles.

WHITE SOX 3, MARINERS 1:

Chicago's Alexi Ramirez hit a three-run homer with one out in the top of the ninth off closer David Aardsma.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

DODGERS 9, GIANTS 1:

Manny Ramirez hit a towering two-run homer and doubled in a run as visiting Los Angeles routed rival San Francisco. Andre Ethier doubled twice and drove in two runs for the NL West-leading Dodgers, who increased their division lead over the Giants to 7 1/2 games.

PHILLIES 4, CUBS 3:

Ben Francisco led off the 12th inning with a home run off closer Kevin Gregg for visiting Philadelphia.

MARLINS 9, ASTROS 8:

Dan Uggla hit a game-ending RBI single with the bases loaded in the 11th inning, and host Florida won its fifth straight.

PADRES 13, BREWERS 6:

Adrian Gonzalez had a career-high six hits and visiting San Diego had its best offensive output of the season with 22 hits.

REDS 5, CARDINALS 4:

Journeyman fill-in Justin Lehr worked into the seventh inning to win his second straight outing and Alex Gonzalez had four hits for visiting Cincinnati.

BRAVES 8, NATIONALS 1:

Rookie Tommy Hanson struck out nine in 6 2/3 innings and host Atlanta snapped Washington's eight-game winning streak.

PIRATES 7, ROCKIES 3:

Ross Ohlendorf pitched solidly into the seventh inning and Andrew McCutchen stole three bases and scored three runs as visiting Pittsburgh ended an eight-game losing streak.

DIAMONDBACKS 6, METS 2:

Trent Oeltjen had four hits, falling a homer shy of the cycle for host Arizona. Oeltjen has 12 hits in his first 24 at-bats since his contract was purchased from Triple-A Reno to replace injured Justin Upton on Aug. 6.

NOTES

Phillies: Philadelphia pitcher Jamie Moyer lashed out at team management yesterday, saying he felt "misled" by the club and "disheartened" by its decision to demote him to the bullpen. Moyer was dropped from the rotation to make room for Pedro Martinez, set to return to the majors when he starts tonight against the Chicago Cubs. Moyer leads the NL East-leading Phillies in wins and losses with a 10-9 record. His 5.47 ERA is among the highest in the majors.

Diamondbacks: Scott Schoeneweis has been placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Arizona Diamondbacks because of depression, less than three months after his wife was found dead at their home.