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OAK@BOS: Big Papi belts his second solo shot of game

BOSTON -- There's been a constant to the Red Sox's first month of the season, even when everything was falling apart the last time they were at Fenway Park before Monday night's 11-6 win over the A's.

David Ortiz's April has been historic, setting the club record for hits in the month, and he went deep twice in his first three plate appearances, drawing a walk in the other. Ortiz has 36 career multihomer games with Boston, putting him one off Ted Williams' club record, while the Sox have wins in seven of their last eight and a .500 record at 11-11.

Ortiz is hitting .405 on the season, which likely gives him the highest mark in the American League once play wraps Monday. He was just one part of a Red Sox offense that's been hotter than any other since April 23.

Darnell McDonald hit his second homer of the year and second in as many starts with a left-hander, Tommy Milone, starting for Oakland. Both of Oritz's homers also came off Milone, who does not throw hard and lasted just 4 2/3 innings. Mike Aviles, who had four RBIs, homered off another southpaw, Jordan Norberto.

While it was not the case for much of the game, Clay Buchholz and the Sox's relief corps needed the cushion the offense gave them once the seventh rolled around. Buchholz, with an 8.69 ERA, remains inconsistent five starts into the season, if not worrisome. Until there were two out in the seventh, he seemed guaranteed for his best start of the season with just one run allowed through pitch No. 94. From pitch Nos. 95-99, five runs came home, and Buchholz kicked the air and yelled in frustration after giving up a three-run home run on his final pitch of the night to former Sox outfielder Josh Reddick.

Buchholz allowed six runs allowed on seven hits, five walks and five strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.

The only other run Buchholz allowed outside the seventh gave the A's a 1-0 lead in the second. Nick Punto, filling in at third base for late-scratch Kevin Youkilis, elected to get Daric Barton in a rundown between second and third base, allowing Kurt Suzuki to score from third base.

Boston came back with four in the bottom of the second, the first on an Ortiz full-count leadoff homer to right. Darnell McDonald made it 6-1 in third by crushing a two-run homer off the Green Monster light tower in left-center field.

Ortiz's next homer, the first run of a five-run fifth, was playable in right for Reddick, who saw the ball bounce off his glove and land in Boston's bullpen. With momentum carrying him, Reddick himself fell into the bullpen behind it. Aviles' homer, a three-run shot, capped the scoring for the Sox.

Evan Drellich is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @EvanDrellich. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.