Eric Hinske gave the Boston Red Sox (50-31) the extra cushion they needed with a three-RBI triple and Jacoby Ellsbury was 2-2 with two runs and two walks in the 7-3 win over the Texas Rangers (34-48).
With the Red Sox on top 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth Hinske, who got the start because Kevin Youkilis (tight left quadricep) was a late scratch from the lineup, launched a Willie Eyre offering to deep center field off of the glove of Kenny Lofton to break the game open giving the Sox the 7-3 lead.
A slew of Red Sox relievers finished off the game as Mike Timlin threw an inning of scoreless ball, Javier Lopez pitched for one-third of an inning, and Kyle Snyder and Hideki Okajima finished out the eighth and ninth.
Kason Gabbard (2-0) had a good bounce-back performance going 5.2 innings, giving up three hits, three runs, walking four, striking out five, and giving up one homerun to Brad Wilkerson in the top of the fifth that brought the game to a one run lead for the Sox at 4-3.
Brandon McCarthy (4-5) suffered the loss going 3.2 innings, on six hits, four earned runs, three walks, and one strikeout.
The scoring came early for Boston as Dustin Pedroia had a two-RBI double in the bottom of the third and Manny Ramirez doubled off the center field wall scoring Pedroia bringing the game to 3-0.
Out of the ninth whole Ellsbury provided some excitement as he scored from second base on a passed ball in the bottom of the fourth.
