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Rangers-Red Sox Preview

Apr 21, 2010 - 5:23 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Texas (5-7) at Boston (4-9), 7:10 p.m. EDT

The Boston Red Sox rallied to snap their five-game losing streak, leaving the Texas Rangers looking to end a similar skid.

With ace Josh Beckett on the mound, the Red Sox will try to build on a victory by handing the Rangers a sixth consecutive loss Wednesday night at Fenway Park.

Hours after being called up from the minors, Darnell McDonald hit a tying pinch-hit homer in the eighth inning, then delivered the winning single in the ninth as Boston rallied from four runs down to beat Texas 7-6 on Tuesday.

After being swept in a four-game home series by Tampa Bay, the Red Sox (5-9) may have found the spark they need to get back on track.

"I don't care how we did it. We desperately needed to win a game," manager Terry Francona said. "We hung in there and won a game that we definitely needed to win."

Things appeared to be getting worse for the Red Sox when they placed starting outfielders Jacoby Ellsbury (chest) and Mike Cameron (abdominal strain) on the disabled list Tuesday. That was before McDonald and fellow call-up Josh Reddick combined to drive in five runs against the Rangers (5-8).

Victor Martinez homered and had three hits for the Red Sox, who were outscored 32-9 during their four-game skid.

Off to a slow start, Martinez raised his average to .250. He has gone 12 for 24 in his last six games against Texas.

Boston hopes Beckett (1-0, 3.86 ERA) can continue his strong pitching. After lasting 4 2-3 innings in his 2010 debut, he pitched seven innings in each of his last two starts.

He gave up an unearned run and struck out eight in seven innings of a 3-1, 12-inning loss to Tampa Bay in his most recent outing. The game was completed Saturday after being suspended Friday due to rain.

The All-Star right-hander is 2-2 with a 3.86 ERA in five starts against the Rangers, who will turn to left-hander Matt Harrison (0-1, 1.38) to help end their skid.

Harrison allowed one earned run in seven innings, but didn't get a decision in a 3-2 loss at Cleveland on Thursday.

"I felt strong the whole game," Harrison told the Rangers' official website. "I just have to go out there in my next start and do the same thing."

In his only previous appearance against Boston, Harrison gave up four runs in six innings of a 15-8 home win Sept. 6, 2008.

After being swept in three games at Yankee Stadium over the weekend, Texas scored all its runs in the first five innings and set a club record with nine stolen bases Tuesday, but couldn't hold a pair of four-run leads.

Nelson Cruz had two hits and stole three bases, but could sit out Wednesday after leaving in the ninth with a hamstring cramp Tuesday.

The Rangers, batting .185 during their skid, need Cruz in the lineup. He has hit .375 in 13 games versus Boston.