Manny Ramirez hit a two-run homer after slumping slugging partner David Ortiz tied it with an RBI single in the eighth inning, lifting the Boston Red Sox to a 5-3 win over the Texas Rangers last night. Dustin Pedroia doubled off the Green Monster against Joaquin Benoit (1-1) with one out in the eighth. Ortiz followed with a hard single to score Pedroia.
Javier Lopez (1-0) escaped a two-on, two-out jam by getting Josh Hamilton to line to center and earned the win. Jonathan Papelbon got the final three outs for his sixth save. The Rangers scored single runs in the first three innings off Boston starter Jon Lester before he settled down and pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs and 10 hits with two walks and five strikeouts. (More MLB stories.)