Red Sox Win With Eighth-Inning Rally

When the Boston Red Sox trail late in a game, it’s time for the opponent to worry.

The Red Sox got their eighth last at-bat victory this season when Nomar Garciaparra’s run-scoring double capped a three-run eighth inning in a 5-4 victory over the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night at Boston.

“Nobody ever puts their head down,” Garciaparra said. “Even when we’re down by a lot, you never know.”

On Sunday, Boston (24-14) trailed Minnesota, 9-1, after five innings. Then the Red Sox rallied with the help of three home runs but lost, 9-8.

“I think that was our biggest game of the season,” said Todd Walker, who singled in the tying run in the eighth inning Tuesday. “Everybody believes when that happens you can do it again. So now two runs down doesn’t seem that much.”

Texas starter John Thomson gave up three hits in six innings, and the Rangers led, 4-2, in the eighth when third baseman Hank Blalock let Shea Hillenbrand’s hard grounder against Francisco Cordero (1-4) get by him for an error. One out later, Jason Varitek singled, and Johnny Damon followed with another single that cut the deficit to 4-3.

Oakland 3, Detroit 1 -- Miguel Tejada’s two-run double ended a seventh-inning tie at Detroit and Ted Lilly (3-2) won for the first time in three starts.

Mike Maroth became the first Tiger pitcher to lose his first eight decisions since Ted Gray in 1953.

Seattle 8, Cleveland 3 -- Randy Winn drove in three runs with a two-run triple and a single for the Mariners at Cleveland.

Ichiro Suzuki had four of the Mariners’ season-high 17 hits.

Minnesota 4, Kansas City 2 -- Todd Sears hit a two-run homer with two out in the bottom of the 10th inning and the Twins pulled within 2 1/2 games of the first-place Royals in the American League Central.

Pinch-hitter Bobby Kielty tied the score with a run-scoring single in the bottom of the ninth.

Chicago 1, Baltimore 0 -- Esteban Loaiza (7-1) didn’t allow a runner past second base in seven innings at Chicago and tied Mike Mussina of the New York Yankees for the major league lead in victories.

Magglio Ordonez doubled in the fourth inning and scored on a weak groundout by Miguel Olivo.

Tampa Bay 7, Toronto 5 -- Newly promoted Jared Sandberg hit a two-run homer to lift the Devil Rays at Toronto.

Sandberg, recalled from triple-A Durham before the game, gave Tampa Bay a 5-2 lead in the sixth inning with his two-run drive.