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Red Sox beat Rangers to take series

May 12, 2014 - 1:22 AM Arlington, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - John Lackey struck out nine batters in seven strong innings and the Boston Red Sox beat the Texas Rangers 5-2 on Sunday to finish a three-game series.

Lackey (5-2) remained unbeaten over his last three starts after giving up two runs on seven hits and no walks.

Dustin Pedroia had two hits, including a solo homer, and Koji Uehara pitched a perfect ninth for his ninth save.

The Red Sox won the last two games of the series after nearly being no-hit by Yu Darvish in an 8-0 loss on Friday.

"It's encouraging to see on day three when you've got a chance to either sweep or win that rubber game, we've been able to put together a very good effort," Red Sox manager John Farrell said.

Robbie Ross Jr. (1-4) took the loss for Texas, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks in 6 2/3 innings.

Shin-Soo Choo had a solo homer for the Rangers, who have dropped five of their last seven.

Mike Napoli had an RBI double and A.J. Pierzynski hit a two-run single to give Boston a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Jackie Bradley Jr. led off the second with a double and scored later on Shane Victorino's ground out to make it 4-0.

"He had a little rough first inning, trying to get the ball where he wanted to," Rangers manager Ron Washington said of Ross.

Lackey faced the minimum before Choo went the other way with a 1-0 fastball for a leadoff homer to left-center in the fourth inning.

Pedroia's two-run homer in the seventh chased Ross from the game, but the Rangers cut their deficit back to three runs in the bottom of the inning after Alex Rios singled, stole second and scored when Mitch Moreland doubled past a diving Jonny Gomes in left field to make it 5-2.

Game Notes

Pedroia and Rios had two hits apiece -- the only players with more than one ... The Rangers play a three-game series at Houston starting Monday ... The Red Sox are at Minnesota for three games beginning Tuesday.