Even without their hottest hitter, the Boston Red Sox still found a way to win.
Sean Casey's bases-loaded walk capped a four-run eighth inning and the Red Sox pulled off another late rally Sunday afternoon, beating the Texas Rangers 6-5 after Manny Ramirez was ejected in the second inning.
The Red Sox overcame a 5-0 deficit to win for the eighth time in nine games. Boston has taken the first three in a four-game series that concludes Monday with the annual 11:05 a.m. start on Patriots Day.
On Saturday night, Ramirez homered during a three-run comeback in the eighth for a 5-3 victory. He was tossed by plate umpire Paul Emmel in the second inning Sunday for arguing a called third strike.
"That means we've got some other good players with this team," Casey said. "The one thing that really impresses with me is how we don't give up on at-bats. We kept grinding on offense."
Ian Kinsler led off the game with a home run for Texas. Milton Bradley had a three-run homer off Tim Wakefield in the sixth, a shot that hit an advertising sign above the Monster seats in left field and made it 5-0.
The Red Sox left the bases loaded in the fifth and sixth, with Joe Thurston — Ramirez's replacement — bouncing out to end the fifth.
"It's just how we drew it up," Boston manager Terry Francona joked. "Again, we didn't have the lead for very long, but we seemed to get it at the right time. There's something to be said for just plugging away and not feeling very sorry for yourself."
Boston closed to 5-2 in the seventh against starter Kevin Millwood on RBI singles by David Ortiz and J.D. Drew. Then the Red Sox struck against relievers Wes Littleton and C.J. Wilson (0-1) for the win.
"We had them beat twice and let them get away," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "We've just got to learn how to put ballgames away."
Jed Lowrie hit an RBI double in the eighth and scored from second when Ortiz hustled for an infield hit on a ball to short right. Pinch-hitter Dustin Pedroia's double made it 5-all.
"Manny gave me a big hug when I got in here, but he hugs me everyday so I don't know what that means," Pedroia said with a smile in the clubhouse.
After Kevin Youkilis was intentionally walked, Drew walked and then Wilson was wild high on a 3-2 pitch to Casey, forcing in the go-ahead run.
"You're feeling good about things the whole game and then when that happens late it (stinks)," Millwood said. "There's nothing much you can say about it. But you tip your hats to the Red Sox. They never quit and they made it happen."
Wakefield (2-0) allowed five runs on seven hits, struck out five and didn't walk a batter in eight innings. Jonathan Papelbon worked a perfect ninth for his seventh save.
Ramirez, who hit his 496th career homer Saturday night, was hitting .425 with five homers and 13 RBIs in his previous 11 games.
Notes:@ Boston SS Julio Lugo shifted to left for the ninth, his first outfield appearance with the Red Sox and first since August 2006 with the Dodgers. ... Millwood is winless in his last 12 road starts, losing nine. ... It was Kinsler's first career leadoff homer. ... Ramirez was ejected for the fourth time in his career. .. Boston 2B Pedroia was given the day off until pinch-hitting in the eighth. ... The wives of Red Sox RHP Curt Schilling (Shonda) and RHP Mike Timlin (Dawn), along with OF Jacoby Ellsbury's girlfriend (Kelsey Hawkins), will run the Boston Marathon on Monday. ... The Red Sox have scored five or more runs in their last eight games.
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