Wilyer Abreu had two game-tying hits and the Red Sox beat the Rangers 11-6

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Wilyer Abreu gave Boston the lead with an RBI single after his previous two-run home run, Nick Sogard had a two-run single for his first major league hit and the Red Sox beat the Texas Rangers 11-6 on Friday night.

Ceddanne Rafaela and Rafael Devers also did well for the Red Sox, who won back-to-back games for the first time since the All-Star break. They are 5-8 in that stretch and remain two games behind Minnesota for the third American League wild card.

“We were very aggressive early on, but not overly aggressive,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “We had some good at-bats, we ran the bases well and we obviously hit the ball out of the ballpark.”

Corey Seager hit two solo home runs, added a sacrifice fly and scored three of Texas’ runs. Marcus Semien and Leody Taveras also had home runs.

Texas’ four homers came from starter Kutter Crawford (7-8), who struck out five and walked one in 5 1/3 innings.

“My execution has to be better. I did some damage and all those pitches were pretty much in the middle of the plate,” Crawford said. “It’s nice to see an offense score seven, eight, nine runs. We can compete with the best of them, we’ve kind of seen it all this year. Luckily for me, tonight they had my back.”

Rangers right-hander José Ureña (3-6) allowed seven runs and eight hits while pitching into the fifth.

The defending World Series champion Rangers have lost three straight, and six of seven, since a five-game winning streak that brought them within .500 — they haven’t had a winning record since going 24-23 on May 18, and have been in third place in the AL West since June 20.

“You just have to play better,” Seager said. “There’s always an urgency. You have to do it. I’ve talked about it all year, it’s about winning series, we’ve tried to do it all year. We haven’t done a good job of that lately.”

Seager gave Texas a 1-0 lead in the first inning before Abreu’s two-run home run in the second. After Taveras and Seager homered for a 3-2 lead in the third, the Red Sox responded with a fourth, four-run home run.

Boston’s big inning started with four straight hits, with Connor Wong’s single tying the score before Abreu followed with his own. They both scored on a quick throw to right by Sogard, the 26-year-old second baseman who made his MLB debut after being recalled from Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday.

Rafaela homered in the sixth and Devers hit his 25th in the ninth off Andrew Chafin, who made his first appearance for the Rangers since being traded to Detroit on Tuesday.

Luis Garcia retired all three batters he faced in the ninth inning in his first game with the Red Sox since acquiring him in a trade at the deadline from the Los Angeles Angels.

DUBBING

The Rangers turned double plays in three straight innings, including Ezequiel Durán making a catch in right field and then picking off Tyler O’Neill as he advanced to third base to end the fifth inning. It was Durán’s first career start in right field.

TRAINERS’ ROOM

Red Sox: Starting right pitcher Chris Martin (right elbow inflammation) is expected to throw a workout Saturday and then could be assigned to rehab in the minor leagues. He last pitched July 3. … Starting right pitcher Kenley Jansen twisted his back in his last appearance Wednesday, but manager Alex Cora said before the game that the closer was “fine, ready to go.” Jansen was warming up before Boston scored two runs in the ninth inning.

Rangers: Three-time Cy Young Award winner and career strikeout leader Max Scherzer was placed on the 15-day injured list with a strained right shoulder. … Two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom is expected to pitch in another bullpen Saturday. If all goes well, he could face hitters for the first time since elbow surgery in June.

FOLLOWING

All-star right-hander Tanner Houck (8-7, 2.79 ERA) will pitch for Boston Saturday night. The Rangers have not yet announced their starting pitcher.