Red Sox 15, Astros 10
David Ortiz went 4-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and Jacoby Ellsbury homered twice as visiting Boston overcame an early five-run deficit and pounded Houston.
Shane Victorino had three hits and scored four times while Jonny Gomes added a three-run blast among four RBIs for the first-place Red Sox, who increased their lead over the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East to 1 1/2 games.
Knuckleballer Steven Wright lasted only one inning while catcher Ryan Lavarnway tied a major-league record with four passed balls in the opening frame as the Astros pushed across three runs on one hit and two walks. Lavarnway redeemed himself with a double in the fifth that plated the tying and go-ahead runs.
Houston led 5-0 after the second inning, but Ellsbury’s two-run blast highlighted a three-run third and Lavarnway’s double capped a five-run fifth. Ortiz singled in a run and pinch-hitter Gomes capped another five-run uprising in the sixth with his homer.
Brandon Workman (2-1) was summoned from the bullpen and picked up with the win despite allowing six runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings. Robbie Grossman homered and drove in three for Houston, but Jordan Lyles (4-6) was roughed up for eight runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 frames to absorb the loss.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Lyles is 0-5 with an 8.49 ERA in his last eight starts. The 22-year-old has not made it through the sixth inning in any of the last four turns. … Astros SS Jonathan Villar left in the sixth inning with an apparent hand injury. … Lavarnway became the third catcher in major-league history to be charged with four passed balls in one inning and first since Texas' Geno Petralli in 1987.