Texas Rangers vs Boston Red Sox Box Score on Aug 20, 2021

Chris Sale hurled five shutout innings in his second start post-Tommy John surgery, and the Boston Red Sox got back on track with a 6-0 series-opening win over the visiting Texas Rangers on Friday night.

Xander Bogaerts homered and drove in two runs, and Enrique Hernandez and Alex Verdugo each added two RBIs as the Red Sox snapped a costly three-game losing streak that dropped them to third place in the American League East. Boston slugged six doubles among 10 hits.

Andy Ibanez had two hits for the Rangers, who have dropped four straight.

Sale (2-0) took a major league mound for the first time in two years last week, allowing two runs over five innings. This time he pitched around traffic early to set the tone for his outing.

After an Isiah Kiner-Falefa double with one out in the first, Sale struck out the next two batters. Two Rangers reached with one out in the second before Sale once again navigated out of the jam.

In the meantime, the Red Sox jumped out to a 2-0 lead on RBI singles from Bogaerts and Hernandez in the first and second, respectively.

Texas had two on with one out again in the fourth when Yonny Hernandez flared a bunt toward second that resulted in an interference call after Yohel Pozo collided with Enrique Hernandez, who was trying to field the play. Sale got Jason Martin to line out to end the threat.

Sale allowed five hits and a walk, striking out five. He threw 71 pitches.

Rangers starter Dane Dunning kept the game within reach until Bogaerts hit his 20th home run with two outs in the fifth. After a Kyle Schwarber walk and J.D. Martinez double, Verdugo doubled home both runners to end Dunning's night.

Dunning (5-8) surrendered five runs on nine hits and one walk, whiffing one.

Boston tallied its sixth run on an Enrique Hernandez groundout in the sixth.

--Field Level Media