Boston: The Texas Rangers delivered the latest blowout victory in an 11-4 win over the Boston Red Sox that ended a three-game series of lopsided games on Sunday.
The American League West-leading Rangers (80-61) would face the Red Sox (84-55) in the playoffs if the season ended now, but the two teams hardly appeared closely matched as Texas dominated two games of the series to drop Boston 1-1/2 games back of New York in the AL East.
Having crushed the Red Sox 10-0 on Friday, before Boston came back in a 12-7 triumph on Saturday, the Rangers once again ran away in the series finale sparked by a seven-run sixth inning.
AL MVP Josh Hamilton blasted a three-run triple in the big inning where the visitors built a 9-0 lead and chased pitcher John Lackey (12-11) who was charged with six runs in five innings.
Boston got on the scoreboard with two runs each in the seventh and eighth innings, while the Rangers added the final two runs in the ninth on solo homers from Mike Napoli and Ian Kinsler.
Texas starter Matt Harrison enjoyed a strong seven-inning outing to get a measure of revenge against the Red Sox.
Last start
Harrison had been pounded during his team's 13-2 defeat by Boston in his last start on August 24, but he allowed just two runs and struck out five this time to earn his first win in nearly a month.
The Rangers' latest victory gives them a four-game lead over the Los Angeles Angels who are finishing a later game against Minnesota on Sunday.
The American League West-leading Rangers (80-61) would face the Red Sox (84-55) in the playoffs if the season ended now, but the two teams hardly appeared closely matched as Texas dominated two games of the series to drop Boston 1-1/2 games back of New York in the AL East.
Having crushed the Red Sox 10-0 on Friday, before Boston came back in a 12-7 triumph on Saturday, the Rangers once again ran away in the series finale sparked by a seven-run sixth inning.
AL MVP Josh Hamilton blasted a three-run triple in the big inning where the visitors built a 9-0 lead and chased pitcher John Lackey (12-11) who was charged with six runs in five innings.
Boston got on the scoreboard with two runs each in the seventh and eighth innings, while the Rangers added the final two runs in the ninth on solo homers from Mike Napoli and Ian Kinsler.
Texas starter Matt Harrison enjoyed a strong seven-inning outing to get a measure of revenge against the Red Sox.
Last start
Harrison had been pounded during his team's 13-2 defeat by Boston in his last start on August 24, but he allowed just two runs and struck out five this time to earn his first win in nearly a month.
The Rangers' latest victory gives them a four-game lead over the Los Angeles Angels who are finishing a later game against Minnesota on Sunday.
