Boston 13, Texas 2

Josh Beckett pitched six strong innings and the Boston Red Sox had three homers among their 16 hits en route to a 13-2 rout of the host Texas Rangers on Wednesday in a battle of division leaders.

Beckett (11-5) allowed four hits and a run as Boston won for the second straight time in the four-game series and took a one-game lead on the New York Yankees in the American League East.

Jacoby Ellsbury, Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez all homered for Boston, which completes its eight-game road trip Thursday in Texas.

Ellsbury blasted his 23rd homer and finished with three hits and two RBIs. Crawford, who finished with five RBIs, cracked a two-run shot in the seventh to give Boston an 11-1 lead. Gonzalez homered for the third time in two games and has 21 this season.

David Ortiz returned to the lineup and had two hits and scored twice, both coming on close plays at the plate. Ortiz had missed the previous nine games with bursitis in his heel.

Matt Harrison (10-9) allowed seven runs - including four in the first inning - on 11 hits in five innings, and Mike Napoli homered in the fourth for the Rangers, whose lead in the AL West shrunk to 2 1/2 games over Los Angeles.

• Texas will play their next game at home against Boston. The Rangers have a W/L % of .560 after a win and .571 after a loss.
• Boston will play their next game on the road against Texas. The Red Sox have a W/L % of .658 after a win and .540 after a loss.