ARLINGTON – Texas catcher Jose Trevino hit a tiebreaking two-run home run to secure the Rangers 4-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox in a series opener Thursday night. Trevino’s first homer of the season came on the second pitch thrown by reliever Hirokazu Sawamura in the home half of the 6th inning.
The Red Sox had only three hits, their fourth game in a row with five or fewer hits, although the AL East division leaders had managed to win the previous three.
Sawamura took over with two outs in the bottom half of the inning for lefty Martín Pérez (0-2), with a runner on base after shortstop Xander Bogaerts had a fielding error. Trevino drove an 88 mph slider 411 feet over the wall into the Red Sox bullpen in left-center for a 3-1 lead.
Texas shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa homered to straightaway center off Sawamura in the 7th inning for an insurance run.
Texas pitcher Kyle Gibson struck out four and walked three while giving up one run in his six innings. He has allowed three earned runs over 33 innings (0.82 ERA) over his last five starts since retiring only one batter in his first-ever opening day start.