Red Sox 7 - 5 Astros
Final
  for this game

Drew helps Boston rally over Houston

Aug 8, 2013 - 7:17 AM Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Stephen Drew cracked a go-ahead three-run homer in the ninth and the Boston Red Sox rallied for a second straight day to defeat the Houston Astros, 7-5, and claim the rubber match of a three-game set.

Drew stepped to the plate after Josh Fields (1-2) gave up David Ortiz's fourth hit of the day and a walk to Jonny Gomes, and sent a no-doubter into the right field seats to put the Red Sox in front.

The homer allowed Boston to sidestep a 1-for-11 performance with runners in scoring position and claim its ninth win in 12 games.

"I think it just sends a message to the other teams that we're going to grind it out until the last out," said Gomes.

The Astros held a five-run lead on Tuesday before losing 15-10, and failed to maintain a three-run edge in Wednesday's series finale. Robbie Grossman went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer in the team's sixth defeat in seven games.

Koji Uehara tossed a scoreless ninth for Boston to preserve his 11th save.

Gomes clubbed a two-run shot with two outs in the seventh and Junichi Tazawa (5-3) tossed two perfect innings in relief to keep it a one-run game and the Red Sox within striking distance.

Grossman erased the Astros early two-run deficit with his second homer in as many days, socking an offering from Red Sox starter Ryan Dempster over the right field wall in the home half of the third to tie the score at 2-2.

The Red Sox failed to score in the top of the sixth after Jacoby Ellsbury and Shane Victorino each struck out with the bases loaded, and the Astros broke through off Dempster in the home half of the frame to go on top 5-2.

Grossman doubled to begin the inning and scored on Jose Altuve's out-one base hit that deflected off the glove of Brock Holt at third. Jason Castro then ripped a double into the right field corner and Altuve beat the throw home, which allowed Castro to go to third and he scored on a Marc Krauss sac fly.

Astros starter Jarred Cosart, who entered with a 0.96 ERA in his first four starts, allowed two runs despite five walks and seven hits in five plus frames.

"Walks are going to happen, I just had too many walks here and there," said Cosart. "You've got to make your biggest pitch out of the stretch before it's a reoccurring theme and keep your team in the game. That's the starter's job."

Holt gave the Sox a 1-0 lead with an RBI groundout in the first. Dustin Pedroia and Ortiz each singled in the third to put runners at the corners, and Boston went up 2-0 when Pedroia scored while Ortiz was caught in a run down on Mike Carp's eventual inning-ending double play ball.

Game Notes

Victorino was ejected during the Red Sox seventh turn at the plate for arguing with the third base umpire regarding his check-swing strikeout in the sixth inning ... Boston is 13-3 all-time against Houston ... Dempster was charged with five runs on seven hits over six innings ... Houston manager Bo Porter was ejected for the first time in his career in the ninth inning ... Grossman has a 10-game hitting streak ... Prior to the game, the Astros selected the contract of pitcher Jorge De Leon from Triple-A Oklahoma City and optioned pitcher Jose Cisnero to Oklahoma City.






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