RED SOX 9, RANGERS 4
BOSTON -- Chris Sale was perfectly happy to sit back and watch the Red Sox hitters do the work this time.
Sale cruised into the fifth inning, then was rewarded in the seventh when the Boston batters erupted for seven runs on their way to a 9-4 victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night.
Sale (5-2) struck out 6, falling short in his attempt to become the first pitcher in baseball's modern era to strike out at least 10 batters in 9 consecutive games in one season.
But he didn't seem to mind.
"It was fun," said the left-hander, who received more runs of support in the seventh inning alone than while he was in any other game this season. "You get run after run, hit after hit. When we score like that, it's fun."
Dustin Pedroia waved home the tiebreaking run on a wild pitch, then singled in two more as the Red Sox turned a 3-1 deficit into a five-run lead and earned their third consecutive victory. Sam Travis had two singles for the Red Sox in his major league debut.
"I was a little nervous in the first inning," he said. "I'd be lying to you guys if I said I wasn't."
Mike Napoli homered for Texas, which has lost three of four to follow a 10-game winning streak.
Sale, who also struck out 10 or more batters in eight consecutive games in 2015 with the White Sox, remains tied for the season record with Pedro Martinez. (Martinez had 10 consecutive in a span from 1999-2000.)
After scoring four runs in support of Sale in his first six starts, the Red Sox have scored 27 while he was in the game in his last five. He took a no-hitter into the fifth, but finished with 3 earned runs, 6 hits and 1 walk in 7 1/3 innings.
"Guys pulled through for me when I was probably pretty mediocre," he said.
TWINS 4, ORIOLES 3 Jose Berrios took a two-hitter into the seventh inning, Kennys Vargas drove in two runs and Minnesota beat host Baltimore to complete its first three-game sweep of the Orioles since 1996.
YANKEES 3, ROYALS 0 Helped by a great first-inning catch that forced center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury from the game with a concussion and sprained neck, Luis Severino won for the first time in a month and led host New York over Kansas City.
RAYS 5, ANGELS 2 Steven Souza Jr. homered twice to rally Tampa Bay to a victory over visiting Los Angeles.
TIGERS 6, ASTROS 3 Jose Iglesias finished a triple shy of the cycle, Ian Kinsler had two hits and scored twice, and Detroit beat host Houston to snap a three-game skid.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
ROCKIES 7, PHILLIES 2 Tyler Chatwood allowed just one hit in seven scoreless innings, Carlos Gonzalez homered and visiting Colorado beat Philadelphia.
PADRES 6, METS 5 Hunter Renfroe snapped an eighth-inning tie with a titanic home run, Brad Hand pitched out of a huge jam in the ninth and San Diego took advantage of floundering host New York's bullpen in rallying for a victory.
PIRATES 12, BRAVES 5 (10) Gift Ngoepe doubled to drive in Andrew McCutchen for the go-ahead run before visiting Pittsburgh hit three consecutive home runs during a seven-run 10th inning to beat Atlanta.
CUBS 5, GIANTS 4 Anthony Rizzo hit two home runs, Kyle Hendricks tossed seven strong innings and host Chicago hung on to beat San Francisco.
INTERLEAGUE
BLUE JAYS 8, BREWERS 4 Ryan Goins hit his first career grand slam, one of four home runs for visiting Toronto in a victory over Milwaukee.
ATHLETICS 4, MARLINS 1 Sonny Gray struck out a season-high 11 over 7 innings in his best start in 2 years, Khris Davis homered and host Oakland beat Miami.
DIAMONDBACKS 8, WHITE SOX 6 Jake Lamb homered off a left-hander for only the second time this season, five Diamondbacks drove in at least one run and Arizona beat visiting Chicago.
REDS 4, INDIANS 3 Billy Hamilton scored from first base on Zack Cozart's two-run single with two outs in the ninth inning against closer Cody Allen to lift Cincinnati over host Cleveland.
NATIONALS 5, MARINERS 1 Anthony Rendon hit a three-run home run for his eighth of the season, Tanner Roark allowed a run over seven innings and Washington defeated visiting Seattle.
Sports on 05/25/2017