BOSTON (AP) – Reigning AL MVP Dustin Pedroia had three hits and three RBIs on Wednesday night, and the Boston Red Sox celebrated their 500th consecutive sellout with a 6-1 victory over the Florida Marlins.

Brad Penny (6-2) labored through five innings to earn his 100th career victory, and David Ortiz continued his revival with three runs and a double off the Green Monster that raised his batting average to .213. Jacoby Ellsbury also reached base three times, including a homer, and stole a base for the fourth straight game.

Andrew Miller (2-3) gave up four runs on seven hits and four walks, striking out six in 5 1-3 innings for Florida.

With a giant “500” mowed into the field to mark the longest sellout streak in major league history, Boston rewarded the fans with food and prizes. The crowd of 38,196 also got to see another victory: the Red Sox are 327-173 since the streak began on May 15, 2003; they have won six of their last seven, including a three-game sweep of the New York Yankees to move into first place in the AL East.

The previous record of 455 straight sellouts was set by the Cleveland Indians in 2001. The only other sports teams to sell out more games in a row were the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers (744), the Boston Celtics (567) and Chicago Bulls (515).

Former Red Sox prospect Hanley Ramirez, who was traded to Florida in a package for Josh Beckett and 2007 World Series MVP Mike Lowell, walked with two outs in the first and scored when Ellsbury misplayed a line drive into left-center for a two-base error. Penny got out of the inning when he took Jeremy Hermida’s line drive off his body, and first baseman Kevin Youkilis picked up the carom.

Penny, who played for the Marlins from 2000-2004, remained in the game. He allowed one unearned run on three hits and four walks, striking out three; he has not allowed an earned run in 11 innings over his last two starts.

Ortiz, who had a .185 average on May 31, is batting .342 in June. He doubled with one on and no outs in the second, then Rocco Baldelli singled in one run and Ortiz scored on a double play to make it 2-1.

Boston made it 4-1 in the fourth when Ortiz walked, Baldelli and Nick Green singled to load the bases and Pedroia singled in two runs. Pedroia singled with the bases loaded in the eighth, but Jason Varitek was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second.

NOTES: It was the 49th anniversary of the day Ted Williams became the fourth major leaguer to hit 500 home runs. … Between innings, Boston Bruins Hall of Famer Bobby Orr came out of the Green Monster to meet Red Sox left fielder Jason Bay, who’s a big hockey fan. … Among the giveaways were 500 tape measures, which the fans in the upper deck extended and dangled over the railing like fishing lines. … RHP John Smoltz, making what is expected to be his final minor-league rehab start, allowed one run in four innings for Triple-A Pawtucket.

AP-ES-06-17-09 2238EDT