"Showing no signs of cooling off, David Ortiz proved hotter than the Texas heat wave he left behind in Arlington, Texas, going 5 for 8 with a home run, two doubles, and three RBIs in the Red Sox' rainy doubleheader sweep of the Oakland A's yesterday at Fenway Park.

Not even the first torrents from Hurricane Irene could put a damper on Ortiz's day.

The affable designated hitter raised his batting average from .305 to .311 and extended his hitting streak to a season-high 12 games, during which he has hit .522 (24 for 46) with five homers and 14 RBIs.

"I just had to produce,'' Ortiz said after he paced a nine-hit attack in the 4-0 nightcap by going 3 for 4 with a two-run homer in the second inning off A's starter Graham Godfrey."