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.