AL: TEXAS at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - PITCHING CHANGE BOS: MIKE TIMLIN (1-0, 6.23) STARTING THE 9TH CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 5, BOSTON 4 DUE UP FOR TEXAS: K LOFTON (.305, 2-FOR-3, RBI)</div>
AL: TEXAS at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: M Timlin relieved K Snyder. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 5 BOSTON 4 TOP, 9TH DUE UP FOR TEXAS: K Lofton (.305, 2-FOR-3, RBI)</div>
AL: TEXAS at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 0 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 5 11 0 BOSTON 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 8 0 (BOT 9) CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - AKINORI OTSUKA BOS - MIKE TIMLIN DUE UP FOR BOSTON: K YOUKILIS (.327, 1-FOR-1, 3 BB, HR, 2 RBI) D ORTIZ (.320, 1-FOR-3, BB, RBI) M RAMIREZ (.287, 0-FOR-3, HBP)</div>
AL: TEXAS at BOSTON <div class="pre">TEXAS (5) VS BOSTON (4) - MID 9TH - IN PROGRESS TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg K Lofton cf 4 0 2 1 1 1 0 .304 J Hairston Jr 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 4 .239 T Metcalf 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .206 M Young ss 5 0 0 0 0 2 0 .291 S Sosa dh 4 2 2 1 0 1 0 .255 F Catalanotto lf 4 1 3 0 0 0 0 .210 M Byrd rf 4 1 2 1 0 0 2 .375 B Wilkerson 1b 4 1 1 2 0 0 2 .219 G Laird c 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 .230 R Vazquez 3b-2b 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .240 Totals 38 5 11 5 1 9 10 BATTING: 2B - K Lofton (13, J Beckett); B Wilkerson (8, J Beckett); F Catalanotto (6, J Beckett). HR - S Sosa (14, 5th inning off J Beckett 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - M Byrd (22), B Wilkerson 2 (29), K Lofton (19), S Sosa (63). 2-out RBI - K Lofton. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Wilkerson 1, R Vazquez 1, J Hairston Jr 2. Team LOB - 7. FIELDING: DP: 2 (M Young-J Hairston Jr-B Wilkerson, G Laird-R Vazquez). BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Pedroia 2b 4 1 1 0 1 1 3 .319 J Lugo pr-ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .190 K Youkilis 1b 1 2 1 2 3 0 0 .327 D Ortiz dh 3 0 1 1 1 2 2 .320 M Ramirez lf 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .287 J Drew rf 2 0 1 0 2 1 0 .259 M Lowell 3b 3 0 1 1 0 0 5 .297 J Varitek c 4 0 0 0 0 2 4 .261 A Cora ss-2b 4 1 2 0 0 0 1 .283 J Ellsbury cf 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .250 Totals 28 4 8 4 7 7 18 BATTING: 2B - A Cora (4, R Tejeda); J Drew (12, R Mahay); D Pedroia (19, A Otsuka). 3B - A Cora (5, R Tejeda). HR - K Youkilis (9, 2nd inning off R Tejeda 1 on, 2 Out). SF - M Lowell. RBI - D Ortiz (49), M Lowell (55), K Youkilis 2 (43). 2-out RBI - K Youkilis 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Varitek 1, A Cora 1, M Lowell 2. GIDP - D Pedroia. Team LOB - 9. BASERUNNING: CS - J Lugo (1, 3rd base by A Otsuka/G Laird), K Youkilis (1, 2nd base by R Tejeda/G Laird). ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 000 410 000 -- 5 BOSTON - 220 000 00 -- 4 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era R Tejeda 4 5 4 4 6 4 1 6.69 R Mahay 2 1 0 0 1 2 0 2.33 J Benoit 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.43 A Otsuka 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.56 BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Beckett 5 10 5 5 0 4 1 3.37 J Lopez 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 3.20 K Snyder 2 1 0 0 0 3 0 2.48 M Timlin 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 5.89 WP - R Tejeda. IBB - J Drew (by R Tejeda). HBP - M Ramirez (by R Tejeda). Pitches-strikes: R Tejeda 101-49; R Mahay 38-23; J Benoit 18-13; A Otsuka 8-5; J Beckett 92-67; J Lopez 17-9; K Snyder 26-17; M Timlin 9-6. Ground balls-fly balls: R Tejeda 5-2; R Mahay 2-2; J Benoit 1-1; A Otsuka 2-0; J Beckett 9-2; J Lopez 2-0; K Snyder 1-2; M Timlin 0-2. Batters faced: R Tejeda 22; R Mahay 8; J Benoit 4; A Otsuka 3; J Beckett 25; J Lopez 4; K Snyder 7; M Timlin 3. UMPIRES: HP--Mike Reilly. 1B--Jeff Kellogg. 2B--Scott Barry. 3B--Andy Fletcher. Weather: 75 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, in from left.</div>
AL: TEXAS at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - PITCHING CHANGE TEX: ERIC GAGNE (2-0, 1.23) STARTING THE 9TH CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 5, BOSTON 4 DUE UP FOR BOSTON: K YOUKILIS (.327, 1-FOR-1, HR, 2 RBI)</div>
AL: TEXAS at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: E Gagne relieved A Otsuka. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 5 BOSTON 4 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR BOSTON: K Youkilis (.327, 1-FOR-1, HR, 2 RBI)</div>
AL: TEXAS at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 0 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 5 11 0 BOSTON 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 8 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: TEX - ROBINSON TEJEDA, RON MAHAY (5TH), JOAQUIN BENOIT (7TH), AKINORI OTSUKA (8TH), ERIC GAGNE (9TH) AND GERALD LAIRD BOS - JOSH BECKETT, JAVIER LOPEZ (6TH), KYLE SNYDER (7TH), MIKE TIMLIN (9TH) AND JASON VARITEK HOME RUNS: TEX - SAMMY SOSA (14) OFF JOSH BECKETT IN THE 5TH, 0 ON BOS - KEVIN YOUKILIS (9) OFF ROBINSON TEJEDA IN THE 2ND, 1 ON</div>
AL: TEXAS at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 0 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 5 11 0 BOSTON 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 8 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: TEX - ROBINSON TEJEDA, RON MAHAY (5TH), JOAQUIN BENOIT (7TH), AKINORI OTSUKA (8TH), ERIC GAGNE (9TH) AND GERALD LAIRD BOS - JOSH BECKETT, JAVIER LOPEZ (6TH), KYLE SNYDER (7TH), MIKE TIMLIN (9TH) AND JASON VARITEK WP - RON MAHAY (1-0) LP - JOSH BECKETT (11-2) SAVE - ERIC GAGNE (9) HOME RUNS: TEX - SAMMY SOSA (14) OFF JOSH BECKETT IN THE 5TH, 0 ON BOS - KEVIN YOUKILIS (9) OFF ROBINSON TEJEDA IN THE 2ND, 1 ON TIME: 3:16 ATT: 36,747 PROBABLES: TEX - KAMERON LOE (4-6, 6.02) BOS - JULIAN TAVAREZ (5-5, 4.60)</div>
AL: TEXAS at BOSTON <div class="pre">TEXAS (5) VS BOSTON (4) - FINAL TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg K Lofton cf 4 0 2 1 1 1 0 .304 J Hairston Jr 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 4 .239 T Metcalf 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .206 M Young ss 5 0 0 0 0 2 0 .291 S Sosa dh 4 2 2 1 0 1 0 .255 F Catalanotto lf 4 1 3 0 0 0 0 .210 M Byrd rf 4 1 2 1 0 0 2 .375 B Wilkerson 1b 4 1 1 2 0 0 2 .219 G Laird c 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 .230 R Vazquez 3b-2b 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .240 Totals 38 5 11 5 1 9 10 BATTING: 2B - K Lofton (13, J Beckett); B Wilkerson (8, J Beckett); F Catalanotto (6, J Beckett). HR - S Sosa (14, 5th inning off J Beckett 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - M Byrd (22), B Wilkerson 2 (29), K Lofton (19), S Sosa (63). 2-out RBI - K Lofton. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Wilkerson 1, R Vazquez 1, J Hairston Jr 2. Team LOB - 7. FIELDING: DP: 2 (M Young-J Hairston Jr-B Wilkerson, G Laird-R Vazquez). BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Pedroia 2b 4 1 1 0 1 1 3 .319 J Lugo pr-ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .190 K Youkilis 1b 2 2 1 2 3 0 0 .326 D Ortiz dh 4 0 1 1 1 3 2 .318 M Ramirez lf 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .286 J Drew rf 2 0 1 0 2 1 0 .259 M Lowell 3b 3 0 1 1 0 0 5 .297 J Varitek c 4 0 0 0 0 2 4 .261 A Cora ss-2b 4 1 2 0 0 0 1 .283 J Ellsbury cf 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .250 Totals 31 4 8 4 7 8 18 BATTING: 2B - A Cora (4, R Tejeda); J Drew (12, R Mahay); D Pedroia (19, A Otsuka). 3B - A Cora (5, R Tejeda). HR - K Youkilis (9, 2nd inning off R Tejeda 1 on, 2 Out). SF - M Lowell. RBI - D Ortiz (49), M Lowell (55), K Youkilis 2 (43). 2-out RBI - K Youkilis 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Varitek 1, A Cora 1, M Lowell 2. GIDP - D Pedroia. Team LOB - 9. BASERUNNING: CS - J Lugo (1, 3rd base by A Otsuka/G Laird), K Youkilis (1, 2nd base by R Tejeda/G Laird). ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 000 410 000 -- 5 BOSTON - 220 000 000 -- 4 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era R Tejeda 4 5 4 4 6 4 1 6.69 R Mahay (W, 1-0) 2 1 0 0 1 2 0 2.33 J Benoit (H, 9) 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.43 A Otsuka (H, 10) 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.56 E Gagne (S, 9) 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.17 BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Beckett (L, 11-2) 5 10 5 5 0 4 1 3.37 J Lopez 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 3.20 K Snyder 2 1 0 0 0 3 0 2.48 M Timlin 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 5.89 WP - R Tejeda. IBB - J Drew (by R Tejeda). HBP - M Ramirez (by R Tejeda). Pitches-strikes: R Tejeda 101-49; R Mahay 38-23; J Benoit 18-13; A Otsuka 8-5; E Gagne 16-11; J Beckett 92-67; J Lopez 17-9; K Snyder 26-17; M Timlin 9-6. Ground balls-fly balls: R Tejeda 5-2; R Mahay 2-2; J Benoit 1-1; A Otsuka 2-0; E Gagne 1-1; J Beckett 9-2; J Lopez 2-0; K Snyder 1-2; M Timlin 0-2. Batters faced: R Tejeda 22; R Mahay 8; J Benoit 4; A Otsuka 3; E Gagne 3; J Beckett 25; J Lopez 4; K Snyder 7; M Timlin 3. UMPIRES: HP--Mike Reilly. 1B--Jeff Kellogg. 2B--Scott Barry. 3B--Andy Fletcher. T--3:16. Att--36,747. Weather: 75 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, in from left.</div>
Sosa the difference as Rangers nip Red Sox <h3>TEXAS 5, BOSTON 4</h3>BOSTON (Ticker) -- Sammy Sosa's 602nd career homer proved thedifference as the Texas Rangers squeaked past the Boston RedSox, 5-4, on Saturday. A surprisingly stingy middle relief corp held the powerful RedSox lineup in check for four innings and Eric Gagne earned hisninth save in as many opportunities for the Rangers, who snappeda mini two-game losing streak. Sosa's solo blast in the fifth snapped a 4-4 tie and gave him 14homers in his bounce-back season. The veteran slugger ismaking his case to earn the Rangers' lone All-Star bid, as henow has driven in 63 runs this season, placing him in a tie forfourth in the American League with the Indians' Victor Martinezand the Twins' Torii Hunter. Boston had an opportunity to tie the game in the eighth whenAkinori Otsuka surrendered a two-out double to Dustin Pedroia,but Julio Lugo - who pinch ran for Pedroia - was thrown outtrying to steal third, leaving Kevin Youkilis with the bat onhis shoulder. The Red Sox jumped on top early, plating a pair of runs in eachof the first two innings. Texas starter Robinson Tejeda waswild from the start, walking the first two batters of the gamebefore David Ortiz singled home the game's first run. Mike Lowell's sacrifice fly pushed the advantage to 2-0, but -in what would be a running theme for Boston throughout the night- Jason Varitek struck out to end the frame, leaving tworunners in scoring position. Youkilis accounted for the Red Sox's two second-inning runs whenhe drove Tejeda's 1-0 pitch into the Monster seats above theleft field wall with Alex Cora on third to boost the lead to4-0. Tejeda walked two and hit a batter to load the bases afterYoukilis' homer, but got Lowell to fly out to left to end thethreat. Boston left a total of 12 runners on base in the game. Tejeda left after just four innings and 101 pitches. The25-year-old righthander allowed four runs and five hits, but wasundone by six walks - five of which came in the first twoinnings. Red Sox starter Josh Beckett began the game strong in search ofhis 12th win of the season, yielding just two hits and no runsthrough the first three innings. The Rangers got to him in thefourth, however, tagging the righthander for four runs in theframe to tie the score. Texas clubbed six hits in the frame, with Marlon Byrd and KennyLofton plating a run each with single, while Brad Wilkersondrove in a pair with a double to center field. Beckett last just five innings, surrendering five runs and 10hits to take just his second loss of the season.
AL: TEXAS at BOSTON <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TEXAS (5) AT BOSTON (4) - HOW THEY SCORED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BOSTON 1ST: D Pedroia walked. K Youkilis walked, D Pedroia to second. D Ortiz singled to right, D Pedroia scored, K Youkilis to second. K Youkilis to third, D Ortiz to second on wild pitch by R Tejeda. M Ramirez grounded out to third. J Drew intentionally walked. M Lowell hit sacrifice fly to left, K Youkilis scored. J Varitek struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, BOSTON 2. BOSTON 2ND: A Cora tripled to deep right. J Ellsbury grounded out to catcher. D Pedroia struck out swinging. K Youkilis homered to left, A Cora scored. D Ortiz walked. M Ramirez hit by pitch, D Ortiz to second. J Drew walked, D Ortiz to third, M Ramirez to second. M Lowell flied out to left. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, BOSTON 4. TEXAS 4TH: M Young grounded out to shortstop. S Sosa singled to left. F Catalanotto singled to shallow right, S Sosa to third. M Byrd singled to right, S Sosa scored, F Catalanotto to third. B Wilkerson doubled to deep center, F Catalanotto and M Byrd scored. G Laird bunt popped out foul to catcher. R Vazquez reached on infield single to shortstop, B Wilkerson to third. K Lofton singled to right, B Wilkerson scored, R Vazquez to second. J Hairston Jr grounded out to shortstop. (4 Runs, 6 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, BOSTON 4. TEXAS 5TH: M Young struck out looking. S Sosa homered to left. F Catalanotto doubled to left. M Byrd grounded out to shortstop. B Wilkerson grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 5, BOSTON 4.</div>
AL: TEXAS at BOSTON <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TEXAS (5) AT BOSTON (4) - EVENT LOG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Texas Starting Lineups -- K Lofton CF, J Hairston Jr 2B, M Young SS, S Sosa DH, F Catalanotto LF, M Byrd RF, B Wilkerson 1B, G Laird C, R Vazquez 3B, R Tejeda RHP. Boston Starting Lineups -- D Pedroia 2B, K Youkilis 1B, D Ortiz DH, M Ramirez LF, J Drew RF, M Lowell 3B, J Varitek C, A Cora SS, J Ellsbury CF, J Beckett RHP. Umpires -- Mike Reilly (HP), Jeff Kellogg (1B), Scott Barry (2B), Andy Fletcher (3B). Gametime Weather: 75 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind in from left at 11 mph. TEXAS 1ST: K Lofton struck out looking. J Hairston Jr grounded out to shortstop. M Young grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, BOSTON 0. BOSTON 1ST: D Pedroia walked. K Youkilis walked, D Pedroia to second. D Ortiz singled to right, D Pedroia scored, K Youkilis to second. K Youkilis to third, D Ortiz to second on wild pitch by R Tejeda. M Ramirez grounded out to third. J Drew intentionally walked. M Lowell hit sacrifice fly to left, K Youkilis scored. J Varitek struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, BOSTON 2. TEXAS 2ND: S Sosa flied out to center. F Catalanotto singled to right. M Byrd grounded into fielder's choice to third, F Catalanotto out at second. B Wilkerson grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, BOSTON 2. BOSTON 2ND: A Cora tripled to deep right. J Ellsbury grounded out to catcher. D Pedroia struck out swinging. K Youkilis homered to left, A Cora scored. D Ortiz walked. M Ramirez hit by pitch, D Ortiz to second. J Drew walked, D Ortiz to third, M Ramirez to second. M Lowell flied out to left. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, BOSTON 4. TEXAS 3RD: G Laird struck out looking. R Vazquez grounded out to second. K Lofton doubled to left. J Hairston Jr struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, BOSTON 4. BOSTON 3RD: J Varitek grounded out to second. A Cora doubled to left. J Ellsbury reached on infield single to shortstop. D Pedroia grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, J Ellsbury out at second.(0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, BOSTON 4. TEXAS 4TH: M Young grounded out to shortstop. S Sosa singled to left. F Catalanotto singled to shallow right, S Sosa to third. M Byrd singled to right, S Sosa scored, F Catalanotto to third. B Wilkerson doubled to deep center, F Catalanotto and M Byrd scored. G Laird bunt popped out foul to catcher. R Vazquez reached on infield single to shortstop, B Wilkerson to third. K Lofton singled to right, B Wilkerson scored, R Vazquez to second. J Hairston Jr grounded out to shortstop. (4 Runs, 6 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, BOSTON 4. BOSTON 4TH: K Youkilis walked. D Ortiz struck out swinging. K Youkilis caught stealing second, catcher to third. M Ramirez struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, BOSTON 4. TEXAS 5TH: M Young struck out looking. S Sosa homered to left. F Catalanotto doubled to left. M Byrd grounded out to shortstop. B Wilkerson grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 5, BOSTON 4. BOSTON 5TH: R Mahay relieved R Tejeda. J Drew doubled to deep center. M Lowell flied out to right, J Drew to third. J Varitek struck out swinging. A Cora grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 5, BOSTON 4. TEXAS 6TH: J Lopez relieved J Beckett. G Laird struck out swinging. R Vazquez grounded out to second. K Lofton walked. J Hairston Jr grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 5, BOSTON 4. BOSTON 6TH: J Ellsbury fouled out to third. D Pedroia grounded out to second. K Youkilis walked. D Ortiz struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 5, BOSTON 4. TEXAS 7TH: K Snyder relieved J Lopez. M Young struck out swinging. S Sosa struck out swinging. F Catalanotto flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 5, BOSTON 4. BOSTON 7TH: J Benoit relieved R Mahay. T Metcalf at third base. R Vazquez at second base. M Ramirez flied out to center. J Drew struck out swinging. M Lowell singled to left center. J Varitek grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 5, BOSTON 4. TEXAS 8TH: M Byrd singled to left. B Wilkerson grounded out to third, M Byrd to second. G Laird flied out to right, M Byrd to third. R Vazquez struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 5, BOSTON 4. BOSTON 8TH: A Otsuka relieved J Benoit. A Cora bunt grounded out to third. J Ellsbury grounded out to second. D Pedroia doubled to left. J Lugo ran for D Pedroia. J Lugo caught stealing third, catcher to third.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 5, BOSTON 4. TEXAS 9TH: J Lugo at shortstop. A Cora at second base. M Timlin relieved K Snyder. K Lofton flied out to center. T Metcalf struck out looking. M Young flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 5, BOSTON 4. BOSTON 9TH: E Gagne relieved A Otsuka. K Youkilis flied out to right. D Ortiz struck out swinging. M Ramirez grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 5, BOSTON 4.</div>
Sosa the difference as Rangers nip Red Sox <h3>TEXAS 5, BOSTON 4</h3>BOSTON (Ticker) -- Sammy Sosa's 602nd career homer proved thedifference as the Texas Rangers squeaked past the Boston RedSox, 5-4, on Saturday. Down 4-0 after two innings, the Rangers staged one of theirbiggest rallies of the season. A surprisingly stingy middle relief corps was the key as theyheld the powerful Red Sox lineup in check for four innings andEric Gagne earned his ninth save in as many opportunities forthe Rangers, who snapped a mini two-game losing streak. "We have a lot of confidence and we know we can do it," Gagnesaid. "It's just a big team win, basically. We came back from4-0 and win the ball game, that's huge, not just for thebullpen, but for the whole team." Sosa's solo blast in the fifth snapped a 4-4 tie and gave him 14homers in his bounce-back season. "That just shows the quality of character inside thisclubhouse," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "We were down4-0 early in the game and we never felt that we were out of thegame if we could have just kept it right there. Then we couldjust pick and pick and try to get back into it and it just sohappens we did." The veteran slugger is making his case to earn the Rangers' loneAll-Star bid, as he now has driven in 63 runs this season,placing him in a tie for fourth in the American League with theIndians' Victor Martinez and the Twins' Torii Hunter. Boston had an opportunity to tie the game in the eighth whenAkinori Otsuka surrendered a two-out double to Dustin Pedroia,but Julio Lugo - who pinch ran for Pedroia - was thrown outtrying to steal third, leaving Kevin Youkilis with the bat onhis shoulder. "When we have him in there, we are just trying to score (with) abase hit and I think its probably a case of a player trying todo too much and maybe trying to do something that's not there,"Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "Obviously, we would like(Youkilis) to swing the bat there." The Red Sox jumped on top early, plating a pair of runs in eachof the first two innings. Texas starter Robinson Tejeda waswild from the start, walking the first two batters of the gamebefore David Ortiz singled home the game's first run. Mike Lowell's sacrifice fly pushed the advantage to 2-0, but -in what would be a running theme for Boston throughout the night- Jason Varitek struck out to end the frame, leaving tworunners in scoring position. Youkilis accounted for the Red Sox's two second-inning runs whenhe drove Tejeda's 1-0 pitch into the Monster seats above theleft field wall with Alex Cora on third to boost the lead to4-0. Tejeda walked two and hit a batter to load the bases afterYoukilis' homer, but got Lowell to fly out to left to end thethreat. Boston left a total of 12 runners on base in the game. "It's definitely frustrating," Youkilis said. "We had a big leadout there. They just came back and put together some goodinnings. We just couldn't get a couple runs there later in thegame. And, you know, for us, things like that happen, we'vegotta step it up offensively and score a couple of runs late." Tejeda left after just four innings and 101 pitches. The25-year-old righthander allowed four runs and five hits, but wasundone by six walks - five of which came in the first twoinnings. "You really have to pay attention to what Robinson Tejada did,to go out there and battle," Rangers outfielder Marlon Byrdsaid. "It was tough for him tonight. He was a bulldog, he stayedout there and went through his 100 pitches early in the gamebut he didn't give up at all." Red Sox starter Josh Beckett began the game strong in search ofhis 12th win of the season, yielding just two hits and no runsthrough the first three innings. The Rangers got to him in thefourth, however, tagging the righthander for four runs in theframe to tie the score. "The solo home run was up (in the strike zone) to Sammy and thebig hit in the fourth was a double that was a fastball down themiddle," Beckett said. "They punish balls over the middle of theplate. That (fourth) inning was the big inning. I can deal withthe solo home run in the fifth if I don't give up the four inthe fourth." Texas clubbed six hits in the frame, with Byrd and Kenny Loftonplating a run each with single, while Brad Wilkerson drove in apair with a double to center field. "It says a lot about the way this ball club is fighting rightnow and we're fighting to the end and making teams beat us andwe're not beating ourselves," Wilkerson said. "We did a greatjob of putting guys on base tonight and coming up with clutchbase hits." Beckett last just five innings, surrendering five runs and 10hits to take just his second loss of the season. "All of a sudden it seemed like every time he pitched and missedone, he missed it right over the middle of the plate," Franconasaid. "Uncharacteristically, all of sudden he started missingover the plate."
