Ortiz hits 3-run homer, Boston beats San Francisco 4-0

BOSTON -- David Ortiz hit a three-run homer and Rick Porcello remained unbeaten at home as the Boston Red Sox beat the struggling San Francisco Giants 4-0 on Tuesday night.

Brock Holt also homered for the Red Sox, who won for the seventh time in eight games despite a strong start by former teammate Jake Peavy.

San Francisco remained winless since the All-Star break with its fourth straight loss. The Giants had just five hits and only three runners advanced beyond first base.

Porcello (12-2) scattered four hits over 6 1/3 innings, striking out three and walking two while improving to 9-0 at home. Porcello settled down after allowing singles to the first two batters he faced.

Porcello ended up striking out the side in the first and the Giants had two hits over the next five innings. Porcello left after walking Jarrett Parker with one out in the seventh. Reliever Robbie Ross got a quick double play to end the threat.

Peavy (5-8), a key member of Boston's 2013 World Series champions, struck out six over six innings and held his former teammates to three hits, but two left the park.

Holt's solo homer to center in the third was Boston's first hit and the Red Sox tacked on three more runs when Peavy faced Ortiz in the fourth.

Dustin Pedroia led off with a walk and Xander Bogaerts followed with a single, setting up Ortiz's shot to right that cleared the bullpen and several rows of seats before finally landing.

It was the 23rd homer of the season for Ortiz and the 526th of his career.

The Giants were in Boston for the first time since the Red Sox swept a three-game interleague series in 2007.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Giants: OF Hunter Pence (strained left hamstring) had a couple of days off during a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento. Pence rested Sunday after getting hit by a pitch the day before and Sacramento was rained out Monday. ... Manager Bruce Bochy said IF Joe Panik (concussion), also rehabbing with Sacramento, could be back in the lineup as soon as this weekend.

Red Sox: RHP Junichi Tazawa (right shoulder) could return to Boston's bullpen by Friday, manager John Farrell said. ... C/LF Blake Swihart is closer to returning from a sprained left ankle, but it is not clear if he will catch again this season, Farrell said.

UP NEXT

Giants: RHP Matt Cain (1-5, 5.34 ERA) will get his first start since June 13 after spending more than a month on the DL with a strained right hamstring. The Giants plan to activate Cain before the game Wednesday.

Red Sox: LHP Drew Pomeranz makes his Boston debut since coming over in a trade with San Diego last week. Pomeranz was 8-7 with a 2.47 ERA with the Padres.