Red Sox

HOUSTON (AP) — Rookie Ceddanne Rafaela hit two doubles with two RBIs and fellow rookie David Hamilton added a solo home run within the ninth inning to guide the Boston Red Sox to a 4-1 victory over the Houston Astros on Wednesday.

Rafaela's first double against Justin Verlander (3-3) gave Boston a 2-1 lead within the second inning. He scored one other run with a double within the seventh inning with two outs.

“Those two RBIs with two outs were huge for the team,” Rafaela said.

Manager Alex Cora raved in regards to the newcomer.

“He's been hitting well for two months now,” Cora said. “He's able to slow down in the crucial moments. He's doing a lot of good things.”

Hamilton's home run to right field against Seth Martinez made it 4-1 with two outs within the ninth inning.

The Red Sox, who were beaten at home by the AL West-leading Astros earlier this month, won that series after a 6-5 victory on Tuesday night.

They finish an away tour that began with 4 games in Baltimore with a rating of 4-3.

“It says a lot for us as a team,” said Rafaela. “We can compete with the best teams in the game and for me we are one of the best teams.”

Alex Bregman hit his first profession home run as the primary batter in his return to the lineup after missing five games with a swollen right elbow. But the Astros struggled on the plate the remaining of the day, going 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position after going 0 for 8 on Tuesday.

Bregman was at bat first for under the third time this season, as Jose Altuve had a rare off day.

Verlander allowed 4 hits and two runs with six strikeouts in five innings in his first start since June 9. The 41-year-old, who was out due to neck discomfort, threw 76 pitches after throwing 57 in his second rehab start on Thursday.

“I felt good,” Verlander said. “I felt like the material was pretty good, and as the game went on, the setting got better and better and the mechanics felt good. So I was happy with that.”

Red Sox starter Cooper Criswell allowed 4 hits and one run in 4 2/3 innings. Josh Winckowski (4-1) pitched a scoreless sixth inning to win the sport and Chris Martin struck out within the ninth inning to earn his first save.

The Astros had a likelihood to take the lead within the seventh inning. Jake Meyers and Mauricio Dubón hit back-to-back no-out singles in the underside of the seventh inning, and each advanced a base on a wild pitch from Greg Weissert.

Pinch-hitter Jon Singleton struck out before pinch-hitter Trey Cabbage walked to load the bases. Bregman was taken out of the sport by a foul ball caught by Wilyer Abreu in foul territory before Weissert was replaced by Brennan Bernardino.

He struck out Yordan Alvarez with an outdoor throw, ending the threat and causing a frustrated Alvarez to throw away his bat.

Jarren Duran, who hit 4 for 4 on Tuesday night, began with a double before scoring on a one-out single by Triston Casas to offer the Red Sox an early lead.

Connor Wong was on first base with two outs within the second inning when Rafaela hit a double off the wall in left field to place Boston back up 2-1.

Masataka Yoshida led off the seventh with a single and stole second base with one out. There were two outs within the inning when Rafaela hit a line drive into the left field corner for a double, scoring Yoshida and making it 3-1.

TRAINING ROOM

Astros: Martinez was sent all the way down to Triple-A Sugar Land after Tuesday night's game to make room for Verlander on the roster, but he was recalled before Wednesday's game after RHP Kaleb Ort was placed on the paternity list.

Next

Red Sox: Boston has Thursday off and has not yet announced its lineup for the three-game series against the Diamondbacks that begins Friday night.

Astros: Houston has not yet announced its rotation for a four-game series that begins Thursday night in Baltimore.

Red Sox

TORONTO (AP) — Ceddanne Rafaela had three hits, including a key single within the eighth inning, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 on Tuesday night for his or her third consecutive win within the Series.

Tyler O'Neill hit a house run and two touchdowns and Rafael Devers had two hits because the Red Sox celebrated their seventh win in nine games.

Boston arrived in Toronto having won two of three games against Philadelphia and the New York Yankees, each leaders within the league.

Red Sox right-hander Zack Kelly (1-1) got 4 outs and won, while Boston improved its record to 35-8 when scoring 4 or more runs.

Rafaela hit a single within the fifth inning, a double within the seventh after which brought home pinch-runner David Hamilton with a single against Blue Jays right-hander Chad Green in Boston's two-run eighth inning.

Toronto's Brendon Little (0-1) suffered the defeat after allowing two runs within the eighth inning.

Brennan Bernardino made two outs within the eighth and Justin Slaten made the third. Kenley Jansen finished the sport along with his thirteenth save in 14 probabilities.

Boston's Dominic Smith opened the scoring with an RBI single with two outs within the second, however the Blue Jays answered in the underside half with a two-run double from Ernie Clement.

Red Sox designated hitter Masataka Yoshida tied the sport with a two-out single within the sixth inning. Reese McGuire followed with a walk, but Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassitt ended his appearance by taking Smith out of the sport with a comebacker.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa chased Red Sox starter Tanner Houck and gave Toronto a 3-2 lead within the sixth inning with a two-out single just contained in the first-base line.

O'Neill tied the sport again with a house run against Little within the eighth inning. It was O'Neill's fifteenth home run of the season. He hit two home runs in Boston's 7-3 victory on Monday.

Two outs later, Smith hit a single and was replaced by Hamilton, who stole second base before scoring on Rafaela's hit.

Houck allowed three runs and 6 hits in 5 2/3 innings. He allowed two walks and struck out five times.

Bassitt allowed two runs and 7 hits in six innings. He allowed two walks and struck out six times.

Squad changes

Red Sox: RHP Chris Martin (anxiety) was activated from the 15-day IL and RHP Cooper Criswell was sent to Triple-A.

Blue Jays: SS Bo Bichette was placed on the 10-day IL retroactive to June 15 due to a right calf strain and top INF prospect Orelvis Martinez was promoted from Triple-A Buffalo. … The Blue Jays also recalled RHP Ryan Burr from Buffalo and sent LHP Brandon Eisert to Triple-A.

TRAINING ROOM

Red Sox: Hamilton returned after leaving Monday's game as a result of discomfort in his left side.

Blue Jays: RHP Alek Manoah (elbow) underwent surgery Monday, manager John Schneider said. Manoah is predicted to return in 12 to 14 months.

NEXT

Blue Jays RHP Kevin Gausman (5-5, 4.08 ERA) is scheduled to begin in Wednesday's series finale against Red Sox RHP Brayan Bello (6-4, 5.00).

Red Sox

BOSTON (AP) — Ceddanne Rafaela hit two home runs and scored five runs in his first multi-home run game, Tanner Houck got off to a solid start and the Boston Red Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 7-3 on Friday night.

Houck (5-5) pitched seven innings, allowing one run on three hits and two walks and recording six strikeouts. The right-hander was hit within the throwing arm by Zach McKinstry's comebacker with only one out within the fifth inning. Houck held on and threw McKinstry out at first base.

“He's one of the best pitchers in the major leagues,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “Every game he gives us a chance to win. I hope people start paying attention to what's happening. He's been fun to watch, and it feels like every game it's 'let's see what goes well tonight.'”

Rafaela missed his profession high in RBIs, set on April 27 against the Chicago Cubs, by two points.

“It's a tough game and it's even tougher at such a young age,” Houck said of Rafaela, who leads his team and all major league rookies with 33 RBIs. “He's 23 years old and he's playing in the major leagues. You see the talent and you know it's there. All you can do is keep pushing him in the right direction and just trust that his talent will pay off. For him to have a game like tonight is great. I'm sure it gives him a huge confidence boost. He's a good player and I'm excited to see where he can be one day.”

Right-hander Kenta Maeda (2-2) pitched 4 2/3 innings for Detroit, allowing five runs on a season-high eight hits, two walks and a season-high six strikeouts.

“It was encouraging that we got out of it early, but if you give them too many chances to get a big hit, it's going to come back to haunt them,” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said. “It was tough for him because the home runs and the extra-base hits did so much damage.”

Boston scored 4 runs within the fourth inning. Rafael Devers led off with a double and scored on Dominic Smith's double with one out. After Vaughn Grissom hit a single, No. 9 batter Rafaela hit a house run with two outs over the Green Monster in left field, scoring Smith and Grissom.

“It's definitely frustrating to allow that many runs, especially in that inning,” Maeda said through a team interpreter. “The first run was tough, but to keep scoring runs after that is less than ideal.”

The Red Sox scored one other run in the subsequent inning on doubles from Connor Wong and Rob Refsnyder, ending Maeda's appearance by bringing in left-hander Joey Wentz.

After David Hamilton hit a single with one out within the sixth inning, Rafaela hit his seventh home run of the season to provide Boston a 7-1 lead.

Detroit opened the scoring when Riley Greene hit a single with one out in the primary inning, stole second base and scored on Gio Urshela's two-out single.

Detroit's Colt Keith hit a two-out home run against Greg Weissert within the eighth inning.

TRAINING ROOM

Tigers: The injury to OF Kerry Carpenter, who was placed on the injured list Wednesday, was reclassified from lumbar spine inflammation to a lumbar spine stress fracture.

Red Sox: OF Tyler O'Neill, who has been on the injured list since May 26 due to right knee inflammation, received a cortisone shot Thursday and will return to the lineup on Wednesday, his first day of play. … LF/DH Masataka Yoshida, who has been on the injured list since April 29 due to a strained left thumb, began hitting off the tee Thursday and will take part in live batting practice Saturday. … RHP Isaiah Campbell, who has been on the injured list since April 12 due to right shoulder impingement, should pitch two innings on Saturday in a rehab task.

NEXT

Tigers RHP Reese Olson (1-5, 1.92 ERA) was scheduled to begin on Saturday against RHP Cooper Criswell (2-2, 3.96).

Red Sox

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Ceddanne Rafaela hit the Red Sox's first home run in seven games, Rafael Devers added one other and Boston ended Minnesota's 12-game winning streak with a 9-2 win over the Twins on Sunday.

Vaughn Grissom and Dominic Smith scored two runs on doubles, and Boston ended a three-game losing streak wherein it scored just 4 runs.

Ryan Jeffers hit a house run and Trevor Larnach hit an RBI single for Minnesota.

The Twins' 12-game winning streak was the second-longest in team history, trailing a 15-game winning streak in June 1991, the last season wherein Minnesota won the World Series.

With one out within the fifth, Rafaela hit a full-count offering from Joe Ryan into the front row of the left-center field seats for a two-run home run and a 3-1 lead. Rafaela scored the team's previous all-rounder in last Saturday's 17-0 victory over the Cubs.

Grissom hit a two-run double for a 5-1 lead within the eighth inning. Smith, the subsequent batter, added a two-run double, the ball bouncing off the glove of Manuel Margot, who was battling the sun on a cloudless, 69-degree afternoon.

Devers hit a two-run shot within the ninth.

Boston starter Cooper Criswell, who threw five shutout innings in each of his last two starts, allowed one earned run and struck out five in 4 1/3 innings while requiring 80 pitches.

Brennan Bernardino (1-1), the primary of 5 Red Sox relievers, secured the victory.

Ryan (1-2) made his team-high fifth start of the season, allowing 4 hits and three earned runs while recording five strikeouts.

With a crowd of 29,638, the second-largest home crowd of the season, Jeffers hit a solo home run within the third inning for a 1-0 lead, one frame after Minnesota had a golden probability for early damage.

Max Kepler, Carlos Correa and Larnach each began second individually in Minnesota, but Criswell picked off Willi Castro and Carlos Santana before Jose Miranda hit a harmless rebound back to Criswell.

TRAINING ROOM

Red Sox: LF Rob Refsnyder left the sport within the fifth inning with left hamstring strain.

NEXT

Red Sox: RHP Kutter Crawford (2-1, 1.56 ERA) starts Tuesday in Atlanta. The Braves plan to start out RHP Reynaldo Lopez (2-1, 1.50).

Twins: Begin a four-game home series with the Mariners on Monday. RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (1-0, 2.45) is the Twins' scheduled starter over Seattle RHP Luis Castillo (3-4, 3.46).