Jacob deGrom struck out eight in five innings, and the Texas Rangers scored four runs in the second inning to defeat the visiting Boston Red Sox 4-2 Tuesday in the opener of a three-game series in Arlington.
DeGrom (11-9), who dealt with groin tightness in his start against Seattle on Thursday, held Boston to two runs on three hits and walked one.
Boston (82-69) had the tying run at the plate after Roman Anthony singled with two outs in the ninth, but Jacob Latz struck out pinch-hitter Jahmai Jones for the game’s final out. Latz pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings to earn his 30th save. He allowed one hit, walked one and struck out three.
Boston starter Patrick Sandoval (1-6) was pulled with two outs in the third. He allowed four runs on four hits and walked two.
Ezequiel Duran and Corey Seager each collected two hits for the Rangers, who have won three in a row. Despite the win, Texas (75-76) remained a game behind division-leading Houston in the American League West standings.
Nick Sogard homered for Boston, which left the bases loaded in the fifth and eighth innings. The Red Sox struck out 15 times, stranded nine baserunners and were 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.
The Rangers took the lead for good in the second. After singles by Brandon Nimmo and Duran, Elias Diaz hit a two-run double to open the scoring. Seager later extended the lead to 4-0 with a two-out, two-run single.
Sogard’s two-run home run off deGrom in the third made it 4-2. It was his fifth home run of the season and followed Caleb Durbin’s one-out single to center.
Latz was one of four Texas relievers who combined to hold Boston to three hits over the final four innings.
