MLB

• Manny goes deep again as BoSox edge Rangers

  
  

  Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Manny Ramirez's 496th career home run highlighted a three-run eighth inning, as the Boston Red Sox rallied to defeat the Texas Rangers, 5-3, in the second of a four-game set at Fenway Park.

  Jon Lester gave up three runs on 10 hits and struck out five through 6 1/3 innings in a no-decision for Boston, which has won three straight and seven of eight. The comeback made a winner out of Javier Lopez (1-0), who recorded the final out in the eighth. Jonathan Papelbon overcame a leadoff single by Hank Blalock in the ninth to notch his sixth save of the season.

  David Ortiz finished 1-for-4 with a run scored and a run batted in, while Kevin Youkilis added an RBI double for Boston. Ramirez scored two runs and walked twice in addition to belting his sixth home run of the season.

  Jason Jennings was masterful on the mound, allowing three hits and two runs in a no-decision for the Rangers, who have dropped two in a row and seven of nine overall. The 29-year-old right-hander also walked two and struck out one. Jamey Wright tossed a scoreless seventh and Joaquin Benoit (1-1) surrendered three runs on three hits in the eighth to absorb the loss.

  Blalock went 3-for-5, while Josh Hamilton, Jason Botts and Adam Melhuse each had two hits and drove in a run for Texas.

  A three-run eighth inning erased a 3-2 deficit for the Red Sox. Dustin Pedroia started things off with a one-out double and Ortiz followed with a sharp single past a diving Ian Kinsler that evened the score. Ramirez then smoked Benoit's 0-1 changeup over the Green Monster to put the Red Sox in front.

  Hamilton's fourth home run of the season -- a solo blast into the seats above the Green Monster -- put the Rangers on the board in the first, but the Red Sox countered with two runs in the home-half.

  Ortiz's double play grounder produced a run and, two batters later, Youkilis ripped an RBI double into the gap in right-center, plating Ramirez, who had earned a free pass.

  Melhuse singled home David Murphy in the second, tying the score at two and Botts lined a run-scoring double in the third to put the Rangers ahead, 3-2.

  The Rangers looked to pad their lead in the seventh, with runners on first and second and two outs, but Manny Delcarmen struck out Gerald Laird to end the threat.

  In the eighth, Texas had runners in scoring position and one out. Mike Timlin managed to get Michael Young to pop out to Youkilis in foul ground and Jacoby Ellsbury made a nice running catch on line drive by Hamilton to close out the frame. Game Notes

  Blalock has multiple hits in five consecutive games, a new career high...Jennings retired the final 10 batters he faced...Milton Bradley's 13- game hitting streak came to an end...Texas' Kevin Millwood and Boston's Tim Wakefield are slated to start on Sunday...John Marzano, drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the first round (14th overall) of the 1984 draft, was found dead late Saturday afternoon in his Philadelphia home at the age of 45. He had connections to both teams as, after playing in Boston for six seasons, he had a brief two-game stint in Texas in 1995. Prior to the game, the Red Sox observed a moment of silence in Marzano's honor.

  04/19 22:45:29 ET