BOSTON — Ceddanne Rafaela\u2019s two-run single snapped a tie in the seventh inning as the Boston Red Sox beat the Texas Rangers 6-3 on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Rafaela\u2019s two-out, two-strike hit off reliever Robby Ahlstrom with the bases loaded gave the Red Sox a 4-2 lead and helped them clinch their first series win at Fenway Park since April 6-8 when they took two of three games from Milwaukee. Boston won Friday\u2019s series opener against Texas, 10-1.<\/p>\n
The Rangers closed within one in the eighth when Jake Burger hit his 12th home run, but Boston added some insurance in the bottom half courtesy of Jarren Duran\u2019s two-run homer. It was Duran\u2019s 11th of the season. <\/p>\n
Pitching for the first time since June 5, Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman got three outs to earn his 14th save. Garrett Whitlock (4-1) worked a perfect seventh and was the second of five relievers used by Boston. <\/p>\n
Texas leadoff batter Wyatt Langford finished with three hits and an RBI. Rangers right-hander Cole Winn (2-2) gave up two hits in the seventh and took the loss. <\/p>\n
Mickey Gaspar and Wilyer Abreu each had an RBI single to help Boston build a 2-1 lead in the third. <\/p>\n
Red Sox starter Ranger Suarez allowed two runs and six hits in five innings. The left-hander struck out seven and walking two. <\/p>\n
Texas ace Jacob deGrom went six innings and left with the game tied at 2. The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner had five strikeouts and didn\u2019t issue a walk. <\/p>\n
The Rangers were without All-Star shortstop Corey Seager for the second straight game. He was deemed day-to-day by manager Skip Schumaker. Seager\u2019s absence can be traced back to a collision at the plate Thursday against Kansas City. <\/p>\n
The three-game series concludes Sunday night with Texas RHP Nathan Eovaldi (5-7, 4.26) opposing LHP Connelly Early (5-4, 3.30). <\/p>\n
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