BOSTON: Jon Lester pitched effectively into the seventh inning and the Boston Red Sox returned to winning ways yesterday following their loss to the in-form Tampa Bay Rays one night earlier.
Lester (9-6) held the Rays to two runs in 6 1/3 innings as the Red Sox (61-41) won 6-2 and snapped Tampa Bay’s six-game winning streak to forge a 1 1/2-game-lead over their opponents in the American League East.
Jose Iglesias had a two-run single, and Mike Napoli had two hits and scored two runs for Boston, while Evan Longoria and Wil Myers blasted solo homers for the Rays.
Elsehwere, the New York Yankees rallied with two runs in the ninth off All-Star closer Joe Nathan to beat the Texas Rangers 5-4.
Brent Lillibridge delivered the game-winning hit, driving home Eduardo Nunez with one out in the ninth after Nunez had tripled off the wall to tie the game. Nathan failed to convert a save for only the second time in 33 attempts this season while future Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera came on in the ninth for his 32nd save, the second most in the Majors.
The Detroit Tigers beat the struggling Chicago White Sox 6-2 even without Miguel Cabrera.
Rick Porcello threw seven scoreless innings while Jhonny Peralta went 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs.
The Astros won 5-4 to get their first victory of the season against the Athletics .REUTERS
