![Red Sox Increase 1st Place Lead Beat Rangers 8-4 Tuesday](http://townsquare.media/site/496/files/2018/07/GettyImages-995763566.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Red Sox Increase 1st Place Lead Beat Rangers 8-4 Tuesday
The Boston Red Sox now have their largest lead in the AL East since mid-March, after beating the Texas Rangers 8-4 at Fenway Park on Tuesday night. Combined with the Yankees walk-off loss at Baltimore, the Red Sox now lead the Yankees by 3.5 games.
Tuesday night's game means the Red Sox have now won 8 games in a row, the 3rd time they have done that. They have won 13 of their last 15 games and 15 of their last 18 games!
Andrew Benintendi was 2-4 with 2 doubles and 2 RBIs and a walk. In his last 5 games he is 12-19 (.632) with 9 runs, 5 doubles, a homer and 4 RBIs
Blake Swihart, getting the start as catcher was 2-4 with a double and scored a run.
Mookie Betts was 2-4 with a walk and 2 doubles and scored twice. This game marked his 30th multi-hit game of the season and when figuring in his walk, marked the 22nd game of the season he has reached base 3 plus times in a game.
Jackie Bradley Jr. was 2-4 with 2 doubles and drove in 2 runs. Xander Bogaerts and Mitch Moreland also drove in 2 runs.
Hector Velazquez went 3.0 innings allowing 1 run on 2 hits. He struck out 2 and walked 2 in a spot start. Matt Barnes 3-2 picked up the win.
Chris Sale will pitch for the Red Sox Wednesday night in his last start before the All-Star break. The pregame starts at 6:25 and 1st pitch at 7:10 on AM 1370 WDEA.
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