Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Darnell McDonald hit a game-tying two-run homer in the eighth inning, then won the game with a long single in the ninth, as Boston snapped its five-game losing streak by downing Texas, 7-6, in the opener of a three-game series from Fenway Park.
Darnell McDonald Plays Unlikely Hero As Sox Rally Past Rangers
Kevin Youkilis led off the home ninth against Frank Francisco (2-3) with an infield single off the reliever's forearm, then took second on a wild pitch. Bill Hall sacrificed him to third and Mike Lowell was intentionally walked to put runners on the corners.
Adrian Beltre popped out and Jason Varitek drew a base on balls to load the bases, then McDonald lofted a high fly to left which landed right on top of the scoreboard attached to the Green Monster to plate the winning run.
The run made a winner of Jonathan Papelbon (1-1), who hurled a scoreless top of the ninth.
Josh Reddick knocked in a pair of runs, while Victor Martinez finished 3-for-4 with an RBI for the Red Sox, who had been swept by Tampa Bay in a four-game series and lost the series finale in Minnesota last Thursday.
Tim Wakefield was touched for seven hits and six runs, walking five with three strikeouts in his six-inning start.
Michael Young and Nelson Cruz each collected two hits and knocked in a run apiece for the Rangers, who dropped their fifth straight contest.
Colby Lewis yielded five hits and three runs over five-plus innings, striking out five with two walks in his start.
Each side picked up a run in the first as Texas started with an RBI single from Cruz and Boston countered with a run-scoring single by Martinez.
Josh Hamilton's groundout in the third plated the Rangers' second run, then Texas tacked on three more in the fourth. Matt Treanor was hit by Wakefield to start, then Joaquin Arias doubled. Julio Borbon's base hit plated Treanor, then a Wakefield wild pitch brought in Arias. Borbon took third on a wild pitch and later scored on a Young single.
Jeremy Hermida’s solo blast in the home fourth made it 5-2, but Treanor added an RBI hit in the fifth to increase the Texas edge to four.
Boston responded with two runs in the sixth. Martinez led off with a single and Lewis was spelled by Chris Ray, who retired the next two batters before Hermida singled. Hamilton then misplayed Reddick's fly to left into a two- bagger, allowing both runners to score.
Varitek led off the eighth with a double down the line in left off Darren Oliver, and McDonald followed with a pinch-hit, two-run shot over the Monster to forge a 6-6 deadlock.
McDonald and Reddick had both been recalled prior to the game from Triple-A Pawtucket to replace outfielders Mike Cameron and Jacoby Ellsbury, who were placed on the 15-day disabled list...Texas set a club record by swiping nine bases in the first five innings against Wakefield...The nine steals allowed matched the most by Boston since October 3, 1913.
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