BOSTON (AP) — Ceddanne Rafaela’s two-run single snapped a tie in the seventh inning as the Boston Red Sox beat the Texas Rangers 6-3 on Saturday.
Rafaela’s two-out, two-strike hit off reliever Robby Ahlstrom with the bases loaded gave the Red Sox a 4-2 lead and helped them clinch their first series win at Fenway Park since April 6-8 when they took two of three games from Milwaukee. Boston won Friday’s series opener against Texas, 10-1.
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Boston Red Sox pitcher Ranger Suarez delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)
Boston Red Sox's Jarren Duran watches his eighth-inning two-run home run during a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)
Boston Red Sox batter Wilyer Abreu ducks out of the way of a pitch in the seven inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday June 13, 2026 in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)
Boston Red Sox's Jarren Duran, center, wears a Wally the Green Monster head as he is congratulated in the dugout after his eighth-inning two-run home run during a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)
Boston Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela pumps his fist as he heads for first base with a seventh-inning two-run single during a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, June 13, 2026,,,,,,, in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)
The Rangers closed within one in the eighth when Jake Burger hit his 12th home run, but Boston added some insurance in the bottom half courtesy of Jarren Duran’s two-run homer. It was Duran’s 11th of the season.
Pitching for the first time since June 5, Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman got three outs to earn his 14th save. Garrett Whitlock (4-1) worked a perfect seventh and was the second of five relievers used by Boston.
Texas leadoff batter Wyatt Langford finished with three hits and an RBI. Rangers right-hander Cole Winn (2-2) gave up two hits in the seventh and took the loss.
Mickey Gaspar and Wilyer Abreu each had an RBI single to help Boston build a 2-1 lead in the third.
Red Sox starter Ranger Suarez allowed two runs and six hits in five innings. The left-hander struck out seven and walking two.
Texas ace Jacob deGrom went six innings and left with the game tied at 2. The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner had five strikeouts and didn’t issue a walk.
The Rangers were without All-Star shortstop Corey Seager for the second straight game. He was deemed day-to-day by manager Skip Schumaker. Seager’s absence can be traced back to a collision at the plate Thursday against Kansas City.
The three-game series concludes Sunday night with Texas RHP Nathan Eovaldi (5-7, 4.26) opposing LHP Connelly Early (5-4, 3.30).
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Boston Red Sox pitcher Ranger Suarez delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)
Boston Red Sox's Jarren Duran watches his eighth-inning two-run home run during a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)
Boston Red Sox batter Wilyer Abreu ducks out of the way of a pitch in the seven inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday June 13, 2026 in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)
Boston Red Sox's Jarren Duran, center, wears a Wally the Green Monster head as he is congratulated in the dugout after his eighth-inning two-run home run during a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)
Boston Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela pumps his fist as he heads for first base with a seventh-inning two-run single during a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, June 13, 2026,,,,,,, in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)
