Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Kevin Youkilis produced the game-winning hit in the bottom of the 12th inning, as Boston slipped past Texas, 8-7, in the middle test of a three-game set from Fenway Park.
Red Sox Win Another Walk Off: Youkilis Tops Rangers In 12th
Dustin Nippert (0-2) allowed a one-out single to Marco Scutaro, and when J.D. Drew flied out, Scutaro was able to advance to second ahead of the throw. Dustin Pedroia was intentionally walked, then with Youkilis at the plate, a ball that eluded Rangers catcher Matt Treanor didn't advance far enough to move the runners.
However, Youkilis was able to crush an offering off the wall in deep center that bounced away from Julio Borbon to plate the deciding run.
Drew hit a grand slam, Mike Lowell had a solo homer and knocked in two runs and Darnell McDonald contributed a solo shot for the Red Sox, who posted their second-straight victory in their final at-bat after McDonald's single in the ninth was the key to a 7-6 win on Tuesday.
Hideki Okajima (2-1) fanned two in a scoreless top of the 12th for the win. Starter Josh Beckett went seven innings, but was dented for six hits and seven runs -- six earned -- with five walks and four strikeouts.
Josh Hamilton went 3-for-4 with a three-run homer and drove in four for the Rangers, who skidded to their sixth consecutive defeat. Borbon added a pair of hits, scored twice and knocked in a run in defeat.
Matt Harrison lasted only four-plus frames in his start, allowing five hits and six runs, walking three and fanning as many while allowing three homers.
Vladimir Guerrero’s RBI double got the Rangers started in the first, then Texas tacked on three more in the second on a Borbon run-scoring triple, Michael Young’s sacrifice fly and Hamilton’s RBI single.
Lowell’s one-out solo blast in the home second made it 4-1, then the Sox struck for more in the third.
McDonald worked a leadoff walk, then singles from Bill Hall and Scutaro loaded the bases. Drew launched a grand slam to the right-field seats and Boston led, 5-4.
McDonald added a solo homer in the fourth and Lowell knocked in a run with a base hit in the fifth for a 7-4 contest, but Hamilton’s three-run blast in the seventh knotted the score.
Neither team mounted a serious threat to break the deadlock from the eighth through the 11th innings.
Okajima retired the side in order in the top of the 12th.
Lowell, who had only played in four games coming in, hit his first round- tripper since September 6, 2009 at the Chicago White Sox...Hamilton launched his first homer since slugging a pair on September 1 last year against Toronto in the back half of a doubleheader...Scutaro finished 2-for-6 and scored twice.
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