Boston Red Sox vs Texas Rangers Box Score on May 02, 2021

The host Texas Rangers battled back for a 5-3 win over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday afternoon with a slow offensive start giving way to several big hits against the Red Sox bullpen.

With the win, the Rangers are now 13-16 after taking three games of this four-game series. The slump sees the Red Sox record now stand at 17-12.

For the Red Sox, it was a frustrating afternoon after such a promising start as they wasted a fine pitching display from starter Garrett Richards. In the no-decision, Richards struck out seven, allowing four hits and just a single earned run in five innings.

Josh Sborz got the win for Texas in one inning of relief work, striking out two and giving up no runs to improve his record to 3-1. Adam Ottavino got the loss, the reliever having a rocky eighth inning in giving up two earned runs and walking two. His record now stands at 2-2.

The Rangers fell behind early, giving up a run in the second inning when, with two on and one out, Hunter Renfroe grounded out to second base, allowing Xander Bogaerts to cross the plate. Then in the fourth inning, Bogaerts hit his fifth home run of the year, taking a 1-2 pitch from Rangers starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz to deep left-center field for a 2-0 Red Sox lead.

Down 3-1, the Rangers chipped away once Richards was pulled out of the game. In the bottom of the seventh inning, they pulled within one run when Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit his fifth home run of the season, a hard-hit line drive that easily cleared the left-field fence.

Then in the eighth inning, things opened up for the Rangers' bats. On an 0-1 count, David Dahl singled to left field on a slider from Ottavino, bringing in Nate Lowe to tie the game. Then, Brock Holt singled off Ottavino and advanced to second on a throwing error, while Dahl and Kiner-Falefa scored for the Rangers to take a 5-3 lead.

Ian Kennedy came in for the ninth inning, getting out all three batters he faced for his seventh save of the season.

--Field Level Media