BOSTON — Kevin Youkilis spoiled Cliff Lee’s bid for his second straight complete game. Then he ruined the Texas Rangers’ chance for their third consecutive victory against the Boston Red Sox.

Youkilis doubled in the tying run in the ninth inning, then drove in the winner with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the 11th as the Red Sox rallied for a 3-2 victory Saturday night.

“I had the same approach all game,” Youkilis said. “I was comfortable. I felt good.”

Marco Scutaro led off the 11th with a walk before Darnell McDonald bunted on a sacrifice attempt. Pitcher Alexi Ogando (3-1) fielded the ball and threw toward second, where it hit Scutaro and caromed into short left field. Scutaro went to third and McDonald took second. David Ortiz was walked intentionally, loading the bases with no outs.

“We had to get an out” on the bunt, Texas Manager Ron Washington said. Ogando “tried to make a play and it didn’t work. If he gets him, everybody’s saying ‘what a great play.’ ”

Darren O’Day faced Youkilis, who lifted a fly to medium center field. Scutaro beat Josh Hamilton’s throw without a slide.

Manny Delcarmen (3-2) pitched a perfect 11th after being activated from the disabled list earlier Saturday.
Boston’s ninth-inning rally ruined what could have been Lee’s second complete game in his two starts since being traded from Seattle. In his first, he threw just 95 pitches but gave up three homers in a 6-1 loss to Baltimore.

Texas, which lost its last four games before the All-Star break, had won the first two of the four-game series against Boston but is 5-9 in its past 14 games. The Red Sox won for just the third time in 10 games.

Lee was cruising all night, retiring 22 of 23 batters between the second and eighth. Then Scutaro led off the ninth with a single. He took second on a sacrifice by McDonald and third on a groundout to second by Ortiz. Youkilis then tied the game with a double down the left-field line.

“I was going right at him,” Lee said. “It worked for me all night. No reason for me to change my approach there. Obviously I wish I could have that pitch back.”

Adrian Beltre was walked intentionally, the first walk off Lee, but J.D. Drew grounded out to second for the third out.

After Jonathan Papelbon’s second straight perfect inning in the 10th, Mike Cameron hit Ogando’s first pitch toward

Boston’s bullpen in right-center field. Right fielder Nelson Cruz raced back and caught it with a little jump and his glove draped over the low fence.

John Lackey allowed two runs and seven hits in seven innings in his duel with Lee.

“You’re definitely aware of the guy on the other team,” Lackey said. “Obviously Lee being a great pitcher, you know you better not give up too many” runs.

Lee struggled a little early, allowing three of Boston’s first four batters to reach on a double by McDonald, an RBI single by Ortiz and a single by Youkilis. Then Beltre grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Texas went ahead 2-1 in the sixth on RBI singles by Hamilton and Cruz.

Lackey watched the comeback from the dugout.

“I came back out there on the bench … ready to jump around,” he said. “It was a fun night.”