DETROIT (AP) – Fernando Rodney found himself in a familiar situation, facing David Ortiz in the ninth inning with the game on the line.

The night before, Rodney gave up the tying home run to Ortiz and Boston went on to win.

But the Tigers’ closer got the better of the Red Sox All-Star on Wednesday, getting the slugger to hit into Boston’s fifth double play to wrap up a 6-5 Detroit victory.

Down two entering the ninth, the Red Sox rallied for a run off Rodney when Gabe Kapler doubled and scored on a single by Edgar Renteria. Ortiz already had a two-run single to go with the two homers he hit Tuesday night, but Rodney got him to hit a grounder to second baseman Placido Polanco.

Polanco tossed to third baseman Brandon Inge, covering second in an over-shifted infield for the left-handed hitting Ortiz, who threw to first to complete the double play.

Rodney earned his fifth save as the Tigers took two of three for the AL East leaders.

“Yesterday, he got me, but I got another chance at him,” Rodney said. “I was ready to go. They told me before the game to be ready to be out there again today, and I was ready.”

Craig Monroe’s two-run double highlighted a five-run first off David Wells, who has been under the weather his past two starts.

“They weren’t hitting it very hard,” Wells said. “I got chinked to death, pretty much. I couldn’t get a breather in the first inning.”

Detroit batted around against Wells (9-6) in the first, getting six singles and Monroe’s double. Wells worked into the fifth and allowed 12 hits, one shy of a career high. He gave up six runs and had three strikeouts.

Wells was able to settle down until Chris Shelton hit his 11th home run in the fifth, an opposite field shot off a curveball that struck Wells as suspicious.

“That guy’s bat must be corked or something because he hit it good,” Wells said smiling. “That amazed me, I was shocked that the ball even went out. He’s a strong kid but next time I’ll check his bat.”

Jeremy Bonderman (14-9) held the major’s highest scoring team to four runs over 6 1-3 innings. The Red Sox entered averaging 5.8 runs per game. They had scored at least six runs in each of their last eight games.

“I didn’t have my best stuff, but I had good stuff. That’s just a great team,” he said.

Bonderman struck out five while giving up nine hits and four walks.

“We made him work, made him work hard,” Boston manager Terry Francona said regarding Bonderman. “He’s one of the bright, young pitchers in the game. We spotted him a five-run lead and that’s tough to come back.”

Detroit went up 1-0 in the first when Dmitri Young singled in Placido Polanco, who reached third base on a throwing error by Boston third baseman Bill Mueller.

Monroe then doubled deep to right to drive in Shelton and Young. Monroe later scored on a bunt single by John McDonald.

Boston cut the lead to 5-1 on an RBI double from Mueller in the second. John Olerud added another Red Sox run in the third on a single to make it 5-2.

Notes: Detroit C Ivan Rodriguez (hip flexor) missed his third straight game and is day to day. … Tigers SS Carlos Guillen (knee) has not played since Aug. 10 and was placed on the 15-day disabled list. Carlos Pena was recalled from Triple-A Toledo to fill his roster spot. … Boston OF Manny Ramirez had the day off.

AP-ES-08-17-05 1901EDT