Boston, MA (Sports Network) – Bengie Molina hit for the cycle and clubbed a tie-breaking grand slam in the fifth inning, boosting the Texas Rangers to an 8-4 win over the Boston Red Sox in the continuation of a four-game series.
Molina singled in the second inning, doubled in the fourth, and after homering in the fifth, legged out just his sixth career triple in the eighth. It was the fifth cycle in Texas Rangers history. Ian Kinsler had one April 15, 2009.
Molina also became the first major league catcher to hit for the cycle since Chad Moeller for Milwaukee vs. Cincinnati on April 27, 2004.
The normally slow-footed Molina left the game with tightness in his right quadriceps shortly after the triple and was replaced by pinch-runner Joaquin Arias. Colby Lewis (9-5) fanned seven batters over five innings to win for the fifth time in his last six decisions. He yielded four hits and three runs. Felix Doubront (1-2) permitted seven hits and four runs -- two earned -- over 4 2/3 frames. Adrian Beltre homered and J.D. Drew knocked in two runs, but the Red Sox lost for the second straight night. Kevin Youkilis had three hits and scored once, but Boston was beaten for the seventh time in nine contests. The game was delayed by rain for one hour following the third inning, and Beltre homered over the Green Monster in left field with one out the following frame, giving Boston a 3-2 edge. It all fell apart for the Red Sox in the fifth. Michael Young singled to lead off and went to second on a wild pitch. After Vladimir Guerrero singled, Josh Hamilton lined out, but Doubront's throw to second base bounced into the outfield, putting both runners in scoring position. Fernando Cabrera was summoned from the bullpen and walked Nelson Cruz and David Murphy to force in the tying run. Molina then crushed a 1-2 pitch over the wall in center for his fifth career grand slam. David Ortiz walked to start the bottom of the sixth and scored on Drew's sacrifice fly to left. Molina chugged around the bases to third after his hit to center off Ramon Ramirez to begin the eighth. Arias scored later in the inning on Young's sacrifice fly. Kinsler and Cruz singled in runs in the first inning, but the Red Sox tied the game in the second as Drew singled in one and later came home on a wild pitch. Game Notes Texas is 8-15 vs. AL East clubs this season,..Dubront had two throwing errors...Boston went 1-for-9 with men in scoring position...Texas has scored eight runs in the opening inning over the first two games of this series.