Rangers 4, Red Sox 3
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Pinch hitter Josh Hamilton lined a two-run double to left-center with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to lift the Texas Rangers to a 4-3 win over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday.
Hamilton's liner off Koji Uehara scored second baseman Hanser Alberto from third, and designated hitter Prince Fielder motored in from first.
The win moved the Rangers over the .500 mark for the first time since last June 6.
Hamilton had started the first six games since returning to Texas but was left out of Sunday's starting lineup by manager Jeff Banister, who was ejected in the top of the ninth for arguing a call at second base.
Texas trailed 3-2 before Alberto opened the ninth inning by reaching on an error by Boston third baseman Pablo Sandoval. A sacrifice bunt and a groundout got Alberto to third before Fielder was intentionally walked. That set the stage for Hamilton.
Boston had taken a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning on an RBI single from Xander Bogaerts, who had three of Boston's 11 hits.
It was a costly win for the Rangers though.
Third baseman Adrian Beltre had the first two Texas RBIs, but he left after five innings after spraining his left thumb on a slide at second base. He also suffered a laceration on the thumb and will miss at least two weeks.
Before Texas' ninth-inning rally, Boston right-hander Joe Kelly was in line for his first win since April 11 after allowing two runs over five innings.
Texas right-hander Ross Ohlendorf, the fifth Texas pitcher, picked up the win by pitching a scoreless ninth.
NOTES: Texas OF Josh Hamilton was out of the starting lineup for the first time since he rejoined the club in Cleveland. Manager Jeff Banister said he wanted to take advantage of Monday's off day to give Hamilton two days off. Hamilton pinch hit in the ninth inning Sunday and drove in the winning run. He is batting .273 through his first seven games, with two home runs, five RBIs and five runs scored. ... Rangers DH Prince Fielder's hot May has included a club record. His single in the eighth inning Saturday night was his 45th hit of the month, which is the most by any Texas player in May. He was 1-for-4 Sunday ... Texas C Robinson Chirinos has just 21 hits this season but has made the most of them. Chirinos has 20 RBIs, which ranks fifth among American League catchers despite a .208 average. ... The Red Sox optioned LHP Robbie Ross to Triple-A Pawtucket. Boston re-signed INF Jeff Bianchi, who was designated for assignment Thursday. ... Boston 2B Dustin Pedroia continues to excel in the leadoff spot. Pedroia made his ninth straight start from the leadoff spot Sunday. He had hit safely in the first eight games, batting .375 in the stretch. He also has hit safely in the last 18 overall starts he batted leadoff. However, he went 0-for-5 on Sunday.