Boston Red Sox vs Texas Rangers Box Score on Jul 03, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Jul 4, 2017

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Andrew Benintendi drove in two runs in the 11th inning, blooping a base hit over a drawn-in infield with the bases loaded off Texas reliever Ernesto Frieri and giving the Boston Red Sox their fifth straight victory, a 7-5 win over the Rangers on Monday.

Benintendi dropped the ball just over the head of a backpedaling shortstop Elvis Andrus to score Tzu-Wei Lin, who had walked, and Mookie Betts, who had doubled.

Dustin Pedroia, who went 3-for-5 with four RBIs, including a two-run single in Boston's three-run sixth, was intentionally walked to load the bases.

Red Sox right-hander Heath Hembree (1-2) earned the victory, retiring all six batters he faced in the 10th and 11th, including three strikeouts.

Frieri (0-1) took the loss. He gave up two runs on two hits and two walks in the 11th.

Both teams used six pitchers.

Texas' Mike Napoli tied the game with a home run in the bottom of the ninth off All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel. The homer was Napoli's third in four games.

The Rangers could manage only three hits and three runs in 6 1/3 innings against Red Sox starter Rick Porcello.

Rougned Odor, who had an error that led to three Boston unearned runs in the sixth and a 5-2 Red Sox lead, hit a solo home run in the fourth, and Carlos Gomez added a solo shot in the seventh.

Boston's usually reliable bullpen, which entered having allowed only three runs in the past 22 2/3 innings, gave up two runs in the late innings as the Rangers tied the score.

Nomar Mazara's single to left in the eighth cut Boston's lead to 5-4.

Neither starter figured into the decision.

Porcello struck out three and walked three in a 110-pitch outing. He continued a good run for Red Sox starters, who have posted a 3.09 ERA with 85 strikeouts and 20 walks in the team's past 13 games. Porcello's quality start was the team's 10th during that stretch.

Texas lefty Martin Perez, in his first start since June 22 after a stint on the disabled list with a broken thumb, gave up seven hits and five runs, though only two earned, with four walks over 5 2/3 innings.

The Rangers scored first. Andrus came home on Porcello's wild pitch to Odor in the bottom of the first.

Pedroia's two-run single with two outs put the Red Sox up a run in the second. Boston sent eight men to the plate, using three base hits and two walks.

Odor's 15th home run on a 1-2 pitch off Porcello tied the game in the fourth.

NOTES: Boston SS Xander Bogaerts (tightness in groin) sat out a second consecutive game but took swings in the indoor cage and did some agility work on Monday after responding well to treatment. Manager John Farrell said he expected Bogaerts back as early as Tuesday. ... Texas placed RHP Keone Kela (shoulder soreness) on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to June 30, while activating LHP Martin Perez. ... The Rangers also optioned LHP Dario Alvarez to make room on the active roster for RHP Jason Grilli, who was acquired in a trade from the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.