Texas Rangers’ Yohel Pozo, left, beats a tag by Boston Red Sox’s Christian Vazquez at home plate on a single by Brock Holt during the second inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
BOSTON (AP) — Former Boston utilityman Brock Holt hit two RBI singles, and the Texas Rangers used a surprisingly strong start by Jordan Lyles to beat the sloppy Red Sox 10-1 on Saturday night.
The victory snapped a four-game losing streak for the Rangers, who entered with the majors’ few wins since the All-Star break at 7-25. Andy Ibáñez and Adolis Garcia each had two of Texas’ season-high seven doubles, and center fielder DJ Peters made a terrific defensive play.
Lyles (6-10) pitched seven innings of one-run ball in his 50th career win. He came in 0-5 with a 7.46 ERA in six starts since the All-Star break and owned the AL’s highest qualifying ERA at 5.55.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Garcia and Ibáñez each had three of the Rangers’ 17 hits.
Kiké Hernández had an RBI single for the Red Sox, who committed a season-high five errors, had two wild pitches and two baserunners cut down.
Holt was with the Red Sox from 2013-19. He was part of the 2018 world champions, hitting for the only cycle in MLB postseason history that year.
Peters made two outstanding plays on Rafael Devers’ deep fly ball, doubling up Hernández at first with a throw on the fly from the warning track after making a leaping catch at the wall.
The Red Sox made two throwing errors on consecutive hits during a three-run fourth that chased Eduardo Rodriguez (9-7) and made it 5-1.
Second baseman Hernández threw wildly to the plate on Holt’s run-scoring single. Shortstop Xander Bogaerts fired wide of first on Garcia’s infield hit, scoring Kiner-Falefa, but all three runs in the inning ended up being earned.
Devers bobbled a grounder and Hunter Renfroe misplayed a ball in right during a four-run eighth.
Rodriguez lasted just 3 2/3 innings, giving up five runs and eight hits.
PLAYING THE MONSTER
Rookie infielder Ibáñez, in his fifth professional season, made just his second career start in left field. He played in front of Fenway Park’s 37-foot high Green Monster, handling three fly balls.
So, what advice did manager Chris Woodward give him?
“If it’s hit in the air, just catch it,” Woodward said he told him.
BIRTHDAY BOYS
Boston designated hitter J.D. Martinez turned 34 on Saturday, and catcher Christian Vázquez turned 31.
They were involved in a play when Vázquez singled, but right fielder Garcia cut down Martinez at the plate.
WORTH NOTING
Woodward reinserted left-handed-hitting first baseman Nathaniel Lowe into the lineup after giving him Friday night off when the club faced lefty Chris Sale, hoping the struggling young player could relax after going just 1 for 14 in his previous four games. He doubled off the Monster his first at-bat. … The Rangers signed 30-year-old free agent RHP Buck Farmer to a minor league contract. He was released by Detroit on Aug. 17.
TRAINERS ROOM
Red Sox: Vázquez played after having to leave Friday’s game early because he took a foul tip off the top of the left knee.
UP NEXT
Texas LHP Kolby Allard (3-10, 4.88 ERA) is scheduled to face Boston RHP Nathan Eovaldi (10-8, 3.91) in the series finale on Sunday afternoon, but the game is in question with the approach of Hurricane Henri.
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