A pair of three-run innings and Connor Wong’s first career home run helped the Boston Red Sox roll past the visiting Texas Rangers 9-1 on Friday night.
The Red Sox broke a 1-1 tie with three runs in both the fourth and fifth innings en route to their third consecutive win and second of the four-game series.
Enrique Hernandez hit a pair of run-scoring doubles and scored twice as one of Boston’s five repeat hitters. Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers (2-for-2, RBI, two runs) each logged a double of their own.
Bogaerts has recorded six straight multi-hit games.
Hernandez, Christian Arroyo and Wong all had two RBI. Wong’s first MLB homer was a two-run shot in the seventh inning.
Boston starter Nick Pivetta worked three innings of one-run ball, exiting with a left knee contusion after being hit by a Leody Taveras comebacker on his final pitch. Tyler Danish (3-1) followed with a scoreless inning to earn the win.
Marcus Semien and Nathaniel Lowe both had two hits and Corey Seager logged the lone RBI for the Rangers, who have lost a season-high six straight.
Dallas Keuchel’s (2-9) season-long struggles continued. The Rangers lefty was charged with seven runs on seven hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings.
Bogaerts helped the Red Sox to a quick lead in the first inning, hitting a one-out double off the base of the bullpen wall in center field.
Keuchel induced a double play ball to end the opening frame and then dealt a pair of 1-2-3 innings. In the third, Texas tied the game on Seager’s one-out knock to right, scoring Bubba Thompson, who singled and stole second.
Seven consecutive batters retired after the first inning were enough for the Red Sox, as they touched Keuchel for three runs on three hits in the fourth.
Devers started the rally with a one-out single and scored when Hernandez smashed a go-ahead double to left. Arroyo’s two-out, two-run double into shallow center made it 4-1.
In the fifth, Devers crushed a double high off the Green Monster, bringing Bogaerts home following a two-out walk. J.D. Martinez’s line single to center extended the Red Sox lead to 6-1 and chased Keuchel.
The Red Sox offense didn’t stop when reliever A.J. Alexy came into the game, as Trevor Story beat out an infield single and Hernandez followed with another run-scoring knock. In all, five straight Boston batters reached base with two outs and three scored.
–Field Level Media
