OAKLAND, Calif. -- David Ortiz saved his only hit for a key moment for the Boston Red Sox. Ortiz connected for a leadoff home run in the 10th inning, and the Red Sox beat the Oakland Athletics 7-6 on Sunday to avoid a four-game series sweep. "I like to go out there and make things happen," Ortiz said. "Weve had a good game, had a good series and then we go back to struggles. So hopefully everything changes at some point." Ortiz was the only Boston starter without a hit until he lined a 1-2 pitch from Fernando Abad (2-3) over the wall in left-centre for his 17th homer. The Red Sox had to go extra innings after letting a 6-1 lead slip away. The As scored three runs in the eighth, and then homered twice in the ninth against Koji Uehara (3-1). The closer had converted 31 consecutive save opportunities dating to 2013. "Im getting hit on day games," Uehara said through an interpreter. "I think its because Im old. Im not woken up." The Red Sox pulled within 6 1/2 games of first-place Toronto in the AL East. New York and Baltimore are 1 1/2 games back. Ortizs homer came four days after the designated hitter belted a tying drive in the 10th inning of a 2-1 victory against Minnesota. "He does have the knack for the moment," Boston manager John Farrell said. "More than anything he stays at rest or at peace mentally in those key spots and doesnt miss his pitch when he gets it." Mike Napoli and David Ross also homered for Boston, which had been limited to two runs or fewer in eight consecutive games. Napoli scored another run as part of a double steal, and former As player Jonny Gomes added a two-run single. Oaklands late surge negated a strong outing by Boston starter Jon Lester. Lester, who had a career-high 15 strikeouts against the As earlier this season, allowed two earned runs and four hits over 7 2-3 innings. He struck out four and walked two. The veteran left-hander left after hitting Craig Gentry and walking Jed Lowrie with two outs in the eighth. Burke Badenhop came in and gave up three consecutive RBI singles to make it 6-4 before Andrew Miller got pinch-hitter Coco Crisp to line out to shortstop. Uehara, who had the longest successful save streak in the majors, blew a shot at extending his impressive run when he yielded home runs by Stephen Vogt and pinch-hitter John Jaso. "Thats a good example of the kind of grit and determination this team has," said Oakland closer Sean Doolittle, who grounded out to second as a pinch hitter in the 10th. "Night after night it seems like its only a matter of time before our offence finds a way to come through and push some runs across." Oakland catcher Derek Norris had to leave the game in the 10th after a frightening situation when he was hit in the back of the head by Gomes bat on a follow-through swing. Norris immediately dropped to the ground as home plate Greg Gibson quickly called for As trainers. Norris was eventually helped to his feet and walked to the dugout. He was taken to a hospital as precaution and was scheduled to undergo a CAT scan. Boston broke out of its week-long scoring slump and got to Tommy Milone after loading the bases with two outs in the first on two singles and a walk. Gomes two-run single put the Red Sox up 2-0. Ross, who homered off Milone earlier this season at Fenway Park, did it again on the first pitch in the second. NOTES: Oaklands last four-game sweep of Boston came in 1971 at Fenway Park. ... Oakland 1B Kyle Blanks left after getting thrown out at home in the second. Blanks has been nursing a calf strain and aggravated it while sliding into home plate. ... With two days off in the next week, the As plan to skip Sonny Grays turn in the rotation. Gray, who has yet to pitch a full season in the majors, has already logged a team-leading 99 innings. ... Boston OF Shane Victorino (right hamstring strain) took batting practice with Triple-A Pawtucket but did not play. .. Red Sox RHP John Lackey (8-4) pitches the series opener against Seattle on Monday. ... It was Oaklands eighth sellout of the season. Cheap Air Max Free Shipping . UCI President Brian Cookson said Wednesday the commission will investigate allegations "that the UCI has been involved in wrongdoing in the past -- allegations which have done so much to hurt the credibility of the UCI and our sport. Cheap Air Max . A strong fastball. A big, bending curveball that can buckle hitters at the knees. Against the Detroit Tigers on Sunday, Elias put the entire package together against one of the leagues strongest lineups. https://www.airmaxchina.us/. Leverkusen said on Friday it signed Schmidt on a two-year contract. He guided Red Bull Salzburg to the Austrian championship this season. Clearance Air Max . -- Zach Johnson asked his short-iron approach on the par-4 18th to "Do something right, baby. Wholesale Air Max . Striker Dario Mandzukic scored the opener in the 22nd minute but was given a red card nine minutes later for a reckless tackle and left Croatia with 10 men for the remainder of the match.Defending champions England survived a final leg shoot-out with Spain to book their place in the second round of the World Cup of Darts. Scotland survive scare Thursdays opening night report from Frankfurt After Thursdays opening night victories for Netherlands and Scotland, it was the turn of Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis to take centre stage and with 18 world titles between them they were expected to make short work of their Spanish opponents.However, England fell behind early on when Antonio Alcinas, who played in Spains 2010 victory over England, pinned an early double to break the favourites throw at the first time of asking. Inspired by Taylor, England came back to break straight back and when Taylor nailed 128 they looked well set for victory but Spain were not to be outdone and matched their more illustrious opponents dart-for-dart to take the match to a deciding leg. Antonio Alcinas and Christo Reyes reflect on nearly causing a huge upset And it was to be Lewis who clinched victory but with three darts for double top he missed with the first two before sinking with his final chance.They put us under pressure from the start and they were brilliant, said Taylor. We were hitting doubles with our last darts and it was giving us a heart attack! Taylor and Lewis celebrate their deciding leg victory Theyve beaten us before and I knew they were confident of beating us again. I think it was a cracking game and its livened the tournament up a little bit - if Adrian had missed at the end there I think wed have gone out.Its a different format now with the Singles and Doubles games, and its a leveller. Sometimes Ive done well in the Singles and Adrians had a bad game or Adrians played well and Ive had a bad game, so well see what happens tomorrow.Up next for England will be China who beat Czech Republic 5-3 with an impressive display of finishing clinching a place in the second round for the first time in their history. World Cup of Darts - Friday Results Czech Rep 3-5 China Greece 2-5 Canada Rep Ireland 5-4 Hong Kong South Africa 1-5 Singapore N Ireland 5-2 Japan Wales 5-1 Finland England 5-4 Spain Austria Italy Fourth seeds Northern Ireland are tipped to do well and came through their first round meeting with Japan.dddddddddddd.Brendan Dolan and Daryl Gurney were kept in check by the Japanese early on but with the scores level at 2-2 it was the experience of the Northern Ireland that won out as they won each of the next three legs in 18 legs, wrapping up the match with a bullseye finish from Dolan.They face an intriguing all-Ireland clash after Mick McGowan crashed in a bull finish to pinch the deciding leg for the Republic of Ireland in their 5-4 win over Hong Kong having trailed 4-3. World Cup of Darts questions Who are the favourites? And who are the surprise packages? Wales also chalked up a win and arguably the performance of the night in Frankfurt, Gerwyn Price with a 150 check-out on his debut to wrap up a 5-1 win over Finland.Price is playing in his first World Cup alongside Welsh stalwart Mark Webster, who is playing with his fourth different partner in the event, and the duo were never in trouble.Their second round match promises to be a cracker against Canada who proved far too strong for Greece, veteran John Part was at his best alongside partner Ken McNeil as they rode out a mini-revival from their opponents who rallied to 3-2 having lost the opening three legs. In the end Canada came through for a 5-2 opening round victory. World Cup of Darts - Second Round Saturday Afternoon Belgium v Hungary N Ireland v Rep Ireland Wales v Canada Austria/Italy v Singapore Saturday Evening Scotland v Norway Australia v Denmark England v China Netherlands v Philippines In the nights other two matches, two-time quarter-finalists South Africa, including dancing Devon Petersen, whose trademark moves after his walk-on got the crowd on their feet, crashed out at the first hurdle.However South Africas doubling let them down badly and a ruthless Singapore took full advantage to record a 5-1 win a second round showdown with Austria who recorded the only whitewash of the opening round - eighth seeds Mensur Suljovic and Rowby-John Rodriquez beat Italy 5-0 in the final match of the night.Second-round matches: England v China, Austria v Singapore, Wales v Canada, Northern Ireland v Ireland, Scotland v Norway, Belgium v Hungary, Australia v Denmark, Netherlands v Philippines.You can follow both second round sessions on Saturday live on Sky Sports 1 from 1pm and 7pm. Also See: Scotland survive scare World Cup questions Next Premier League player? Sky Live: World Cup of Darts ' ' '