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Rangers use late runs to top Red Sox

Jul 26, 2012 - 5:54 AM Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Elvis Andrus scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch in the seventh inning on Wednesday, allowing the Rangers to edge the Red Sox, 5-3, in the finale of a three-game series.

Dustin Pedroia belted a game-tying solo homer in the sixth inning, but Andrus was hit by a pitch in the seventh and moved to third base on a two-out single by Adrian Beltre before crossing the plate on Josh Beckett's wild pitch.

Derek Holland (7-5) lasted 7 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on four hits with a walk and seven strikeouts. He has won four straight games against the Red Sox dating back to 2009.

Joe Nathan tossed a 1-2-3 ninth to record his 20th save of the season.

David Murphy had an RBI double during a three-run fourth inning and Nelson Cruz hit a solo homer in the eighth for the Rangers, who took two of three in this set and improved to 10-2-1 over their last 13 series.

"We're still in first place, I think everybody is still looking up at us," said Texas manager Ron Washington. "We may have some inconsistent times but we have a good ball club."

Beckett (5-9) was charged with four runs on nine hits over seven innings. He walked two and struck out three, but lost for the fifth time in his last six decisions.

Pedroia drove in a run with a double play groundout in the first inning and also threw a runner out at the plate in the third. Texarkana native Will Middlebrooks had a solo shot for the Red Sox, who have lost five of their last six games.

"We hit a lot of balls hard tonight, a lot of balls in a lot of big situations too," said Middlebrooks. "We're doing all the right things."

Middlebrooks made it 2-0 in the fourth with his 12th homer of the season -- a blast to left-center -- before the Rangers went ahead in the home half.

Michael Young led off with a double to right and scored on Murphy's one-out, Tobago. Yorvit Torrealba followed with a line drive single to left field and Craig Gentry plated the tying run with a sacrifice bunt.

Ian Kinsler then made it 3-2 with a shallow fly ball, which a sliding Cody Ross failed to catch in right field. The play was similar to Beltre's two-out single in the seventh, which fell in next to the sliding Ross, moving Andrus to third base.

Holland was relieved after Pedro Ciriaco's single with two down in the eighth. Ciriaco stole second, but Mike Adams retired Pedroia to end the inning.

Game Notes

Cruz hit 13th homer of the season while Pedroia hit his seventh...Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout...The Rangers have won four of five meetings between the teams this season. They will close the season-series with a three-game set in Boston in early August...Holland improved to 4-1 in five career starts against the Red Sox.