David Ortiz-led Red Sox power their way past the Rays again

Home runs by Cody Ross and Mike Aviles helped a third straight win.

BOSTON - It was not that long ago that April was David Ortiz' most miserable month. In 2009 and again in 2010, slow starts had the pundits buzzing, saying the Red Sox designated hitter was through. With Boston's 6-4 win over Tampa Bay on Sunday, though, came more evidence that when Ortiz said he had plenty of punch and power left in him, he was right.

"I'm just trying not to miss any opportunities,'' he said after going 3-for-4 with two doubles. His two-bagger in the sixth broke a 4-4 tie and gave him 10 RBIs.

Ortiz entered the day in a five-way tie for the American League RBI lead. His .444 average leads the league.

Nine games is a small sample size, but that didn't stop the skeptics from questioning Ortiz' staying power when the starts were poor.

Ortiz, 36, bounced back after each slow start. He hit well in 2011 and came to spring training in great shape, looking slimmer than his listed 230 pounds.

The team's decision to sign him for another year looks wise - unless they should have grabbed him for two.

"I'm a trouper, man. I go right at my business, and not pay attention to what anyone says or tries to put in my head,'' Ortiz said.

In truth, rather than remaining immune to negative suggestions, Ortiz has been hurt by them. One man who needed no convincing was Bobby Valentine, who hustled down to the Dominican Republic after getting the Red Sox manager's job.

"I wanted David to know the new guy wanted him. I had watched him from afar and knew he could help any team, and wanted him to help mine,'' Valentine said.

Ortiz helped on Sunday with three straight hits off Tampa Bay left-hander Matt Moore. His second-inning double preceded Cody Ross' three-run home run.

In the fourth, Ortiz singled and later scored on Kelly Shoppach's double. After Tampa Bay had erased a 4-0 deficit, Ortiz doubled home Kevin Youkilis in the sixth, giving Boston a 5-4 lead.

Ortiz has six doubles. Nobody in baseball entered Sunday with more than five.

Once seen as increasingly vulnerable against left-handers, Ortiz is 6-for-13 against them this year.

"I can't tell the difference. Lefty or righty, first inning or ninth, soft thrower or hard, it's always a determined at-bat,'' Valentine said.

"There are some tough lefties. The other day, we faced (Toronto's) Ricky Romero, and he didn't leave anything out over the plate to drive,'' Ortiz said.

"But it's a mindset. Lefties throw the ball over the plate, too.''

The Red Sox go for a four-game series sweep in Monday's Patriots Day game. They have outscored the Rays 31-11.

They survived 13 Tampa Bay hits Sunday. Felix Doubront had a shutout for four innings, but wilted and left with a 4-4 tie in the sixth.

Valentine is not surprised at the turnaround from a 1-5 road trip.

"I never saw a lack of confidence in this team, or a lack of fight,'' he said.

He is not surprised about Ortiz, either.

"He came into spring training in great shape on the first day, and he wanted to take a leadership role,'' Valentine said.

"The best way to do that is to come up in big situations and produce, and he's doing that.''