ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) \u2014 Jacob deGrom struck out eight in five innings, Corey Seager had a two-run single and the Texas Rangers beat the Boston Red Sox 4-2 on Tuesday night in a series opener between playoff contenders.<\/p>\n
All-Star closer Jacob Latz, the fourth Texas reliever, got the five outs for his 30th save in 33 chances after deGrom (11-9) needed 92 pitches while giving up two runs. Latz struck out pinch-hitter Andruw Monasterio with the bases loaded to end the eighth.<\/p>\n
Texas (75-76) stayed within one game of AL West-leading Houston (76-75) after the Astros also won<\/a> Tuesday. The Rangers moved ahead of Toronto (75-77), which lost to Detroit<\/a>, to stay within 1 1\/2 games of Cleveland (77-75) for the third and final wild card.<\/p>\n Boston (82-69) is second in the wild-card race, 5 1\/2 games ahead of the Guardians.<\/p>\n Red Sox starter Patrick Sandoval (1-6) struck out his first four batters but was done after allowing four runs in 2 2\/3 innings. The left-hander struck out five and walked two.<\/p>\n Elias D\u00edaz hit a two-run double into the left-field corner with two outs in the second to put Texas ahead. Sandoval walked the next two batters and Seager’s high popup<\/a> tipped off the extended glove of shortstop Trevor Story in short left as the Rangers extended the lead to 4-0.<\/p>\n Seager, who had another single in the fifth, had multiple hits for the 12th time in 27 games since Aug. 15.<\/p>\n Boston No. 9 batter Nick Sogard hit a two-run homer in the third.<\/p>\n The Red Sox failed to score after loading the bases without a hit in the fifth. They had a batter hit by a pitch, another that reached on a catcher\u2019s interference call and a two-out walk before Adley Rutschman\u2019s inning-ending groundout.<\/p>\n Up next<\/p>\n Rangers LHP MacKenzie Gore (8-11, 4.62) is set to match the MLB lead with his 32nd start in the middle game Wednesday night. Rookie LHP Jake Bennett (9-7, 3.69) pitches for the Red Sox.<\/p>\n