Trevor Story’s 3-run homer lifts Red Sox to 4-3 win, dropping Rangers into 2nd place in AL West

Aurora, Texas (AP) — Boston Red Sox ace Trevor Story hammered a three-run homer off Texas' All-Star closer Jacob Latz in the eighth frame, turning around a three-run deficit as the Red Sox edged the Rangers 4-3, relegating the Rangers to second place in the AL West. The Texas Rangers (76-77) had lifted themselves to the division top spot after four straight victories, but they fell behind Houston (77-76) by a game after the Red Sox triumphed.

The Rangers trail by two games for the final AL wild card spot. Boston's Wyatt Olds (2-0) struck out Adley Rutschman and Story, who hails from nearby Irving, hit a low curveball thrown by Latz and smashed it over the left-field fence for his fourth homer this campaign. Garrett Whitlock (4-0) shut the door in the ninth, getting Jake Burger to ground into a game-ending double play.

Josh Jung led off the game with a home run against Texas' Sonny Gray, and the Rangers took an early 3-0 lead in the second inning on Danny Jansen's RBI single and Evan Carter's squeeze bunt. Roman Anthony was thrown out chasing a run-scoring forceout in the seventh. Texas' Cody Bradford went 4 1/3 shutout innings after his opener, but he missed last season after undergoing elbow surgery.

Gray lasted 6 1/3 innings and threw a season-high 102 pitches, allowing three hits. The Red Sox will face LHP Ian Seymour (9-6, 4.27) from Tampa Bay on Friday night, while the Rangers will host visiting Toronto RHP Dylan Cease (11-5, 2.38) on the same date.