Ortiz ties it with RBI single, Ramirez follows with 2-run HR to lift Red Sox over Rangers 5-3
Associated Press | Apr 19, 08 9:21 PM CDT in
Sports
Manny Ramirez hit a two-run homer after slumping slugging partner David Ortiz tied it with an RBI single in the eighth inning, lifting the Boston Red Sox to a 5-3 win over the Texas Rangers on Saturday night.
With the crowd still buzzing after the Bruins' 5-4 win over Montreal in the Game 6 of the Stanley Cup playoffs was posted on the scoreboards, Dustin Pedroia doubled off the Green Monster against Joaquin Benoit (1-1) with one out in the eighth.
Ortiz followed with a hard single that bounced off the glove of diving second baseman Ian Kinsler and into short right field, scoring Pedroia. Ramirez then hit an 0-1 pitch over the Monster seats for his sixth of the season and 496th of his career.
Javier Lopez (1-0) escaped a two-on, two-out jam by getting Josh Hamilton _ the only batter he faced _ to line to center and earned the win. Jonathan Papelbon got the final three outs for his sixth save.
The Rangers scored single runs in the first three innings off Boston starter Jon Lester before he settled down and pitched 6 1-3 innings, allowing three runs and 10 hits with two walks and five strikeouts as the Red Sox won for the seventh time in eight games.
The Rockies' Jason Jennings, who failed to get past the fifth inning in each of his starts, gave up just two runs and three hits through six.
Hamilton homered into the seats above the Green Monster for his fourth of the season.
The Red Sox scored a pair of runs in the bottom half of the first. Jacoby Ellsbury doubled and advanced to third on Pedroia's sacrifice, with Pedroia reaching on Jennings' throwing error. Ortiz, who entered hitting just .134, bounced into a double play that scored Ellsbury. Kevin Youkilis then doubled home a run.
Adam Melhuse's RBI single tied it at 2 in the second, and Texas grabbed the lead on Jason Botts' run-scoring double after Hamilton and Hank Blalock singled.
Notes:@ The Red Sox held a moment of silence before the game for former catcher John Marzano, 45, who died earlier in the day. He played for the club from 1987-92. ... Hamilton has hit safely in 15 of 18 games. ... Boston manager Terry Francona said 3B Mike Lowell, on the 15-day DL since April 10 with a sprained left thumb, is about a week away. ... Texas LF German Duran singled in his first at-bat for his first career hit. ... Rangers OF Milton Bradley flied to the track in center for the final out, ending his 13-game hitting streak. ... Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong received a loud ovation before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.
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