American League Game Summary - Texas at Boston

Boston, MA (SportsNetwork.com) - David Ortiz stroked a go-ahead three-run homer in the eighth inning as the Boston Red Sox defeated the Texas Rangers, 4-2, in the rubber match of a three-game set.

With runners on first and third in the deciding frame, Neal Cotts took over for Alexi Ogando, and Ortiz crushed a fastball high into the right field seats. The umpiring crew reviewed it and confirmed it stayed fair.

"It was pretty close, but I knew it was fair," Ortiz said. "I wanted to make sure it was fair. I stayed watching it. I don't know why I keep hitting balls down the line like that."

A.J. Pierzynski and Dustin Pedroia each supplied a hit and Ortiz added a double as Boston won its second series of the season. Starter Jake Peavy allowed one run on three hits with eight strikeouts and four walks in 6 2/3 innings. Andrew Miller (1-0) surrendered one run on a hit in the eighth but still picked up the win.

Mitch Moreland stroked a solo home run and Alex Rios drove in a run for the Rangers, who have dropped four of their last six. Robbie Ross allowed an unearned run on two hits with six walks across 5 1/3 innings. Ogando (0-1) was the losing pitcher as he was tagged with two runs.

"He was erratic," Texas manager Ron Washington said of Ross, referring to his six walks. "His command was a little off, but he held us in the ballgame."

Jackie Bradley and Jonny Gomes worked back-to-back one-out walks in the third before Pedroia tapped a short infield hit. Ross tracked it down and threw the ball over Moreland's head at first base, allowing Bradley to give the Red Sox the lead.

Texas tied the game at one in the seventh when Moreland stroked his first home run of the season into the bullpen in left field. Leonys Martin took a two-out walk before Kevin Kouzmanoff singled on a line drive to right to put runners on the corners, but Shin Soo-Choo flied out to center to end the threat.

Miller came in to pitch the eighth for the Red Sox. Andrus led off the inning off with a line drive double to right and moved to third on Prince Fielder's groundout. Rios came up next and lifted a flyball to center, scoring Andrus with a sacrifice fly.

The Red Sox went ahead in the bottom half. Bradley took a walk and Pierzynski dropped a short flyball right on the right field line to put runners at first and second with no outs. Pedroia hit a hard grounder to Andrus at shortstop and Andrus tossed the ball to second to retire Pierzynski for the first out before Ortiz came up to homer off Cotts.

Koji Uehara retired the Rangers in order to earn his second save of the season.