BoSox Hit Tigers With Longball

For a No. 9 hitter in the lineup, Boston Red Sox rookie Trot Nixon put on a pretty good show.

Nixon hit three of Boston's seven home runs and had a career-high five RBIs as the Red Sox snapped a three-game losing streak with an 11-4 victory over the Tigers on Saturday.

Nomar Garciaparra homered twice and Brian Daubach and Troy O'Leary also homered for the Red Sox, who won for just the fifth time in their last 16 games.

Nixon, the Red Sox's No. 9 hitter, had just three home runs all season before he lauched a three-run homer in a four-run second, hit one of Boston's three homers in a four-run fourth and added a solo blast in the eighth.

"I'm going to enjoy tonight, but I've got to come back tomorrow and try to help the team win again," Nixon said. "I try to get on base for the top of our lineup; that's my job in the nine-hole, to get on base and let those guys drive me in."

Nixon hit 73 home runs over seven minor league seasons, including 23 last year with Triple-A Pawtucket.

"I think he's a good hitter; that's why he's in the lineup," Boston manager Jimy Williams said. "He's shown power in the past."

Garciaparra hit a solo shot in the third and followed Daubach's two-run blast with his second of the game in the fourth.

Rookie Jeff Weaver (6-6) allowed the first five homers, tying a Tigers record set by Don Mossi against Cleveland in 1961. The three Weaver gave up in the fourth matched a team mark last done by Willie Blair on May 8.

Of the 14 homers Weaver has allowed in 19 starts, the Red Sox have hit nine. That makes Tigers manager Larry Parrish think the rookie may be tipping his pitches.

"I was in looking at tape trying to see if Jeff was giving anything away, or was it his location or his mechanics," Parrish said. "From what I saw, I could pick up something and might know what was coming."

The Red Sox's power surge easily allowed Mark Portugal (6-7) to in for the third time in his last four decisions. Portugal went five innings and allowed three runs on seven hits with a season-high five strikeouts and one walk.

He had no problems with back spasms that pushed back a scheduled start Thursday. Not even after a 54-minute rain delay following the second inning.

"Actually I think when I came back from the delay I was throwing the ball better," Portugal said. "I went down to warm up and felt really good and came back in and put a hot pack on and it felt great."

Derek Lowe pitched the final four innings for his fifth save.

Polonia led off the Tigers' first with his career-high fifth homer and second in two days against the Red Sox.

But Nixon's three-run homer highlighted a four-run second. It came after Reggie Jefferson singled and Jason Varitek walked to set up a bunt single by Darren Lewis. A run scored when third baseman Frank Catalanotto's throw went past first.

After the rain delay, the teams traded solo homers from Garciaparra and Catalanotto in the third.

Nixon homered again in the fourth and Daubach followed John Valentin's double in the fourth with his 12th homer. Garciaparra then found the seats again with his 17th for a 9-2 lead.

"It was good to see our club break out offensively," Williams said.

Clark hit his 14th homer of the season and sixth in 10 games since the All-Star break off Lowe in the seventh.

Nixon connected again off Blair in the eighth. O'Leary homered off C.J. Nitkowski in the ninth.

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