HOUSTON – Stephen Drew hit a three-run homer in the top of the ninth to rally the Boston Red Sox to a 7-5 victory over the Houston Astros on Wednesday night.
David Ortiz had four hits, and Jonny Gomes also hit a home run for the Red Sox, who have won 7 of 9.
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Robbie Grossman had two hits, including a homer, and Jason Castro added two hits for the Astros, who have dropped 6 of 7 and are a major league-worst 37-76.
Ortiz led off the ninth with a single. Gomes then drew a one-out walk before Drew’s home run to right, his ninth of the season, off Josh Fields (1-2).
Junichi Tazawa (5-3) threw two scoreless innings for the win. Koji Uehara pitched the ninth for his 11th save.
Grossman tied it at 2 in the third with a two-run shot to right. He extended his hitting streak to 10 games with his third home run of the season and second in two games.
Jose Altuve gave the Astros their first lead of the night in the sixth at 3-2 with a run-scoring single off a diving Brock Holt’s glove, scoring Grossman, who had led off the inning with a double and moved to third on a wild pitch.
Altuve scored on Castro’s double down the right-field line, sliding in ahead of Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s tag at the plate. Castro, who had moved to third on the throw home, scored on Marc Krauss’ sacrifice fly to make it 5-2.
Houston got out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the sixth, as Wesley Wright stuck out Jacoby Ellsbury before Josh Zeid struck out Shane Victorino on a checked swing to end the inning.
But Gomes started the comeback with a two-run home run in the seventh off Zeid.
Victorino was ejected by third- base umpire Brian Knight with one out in the seventh after running out of the dugout to argue a call.
Ryan Dempster allowed five runs and seven hits while striking out seven over six innings. Dempster has allowed 12 runs in 12 innings over his last two starts.
Holt gave the Red Sox a 1-0 lead in the second on a groundout, scoring Gomes. L.J. Hoes kept the Red Sox from scoring more, making a diving catch on Ellsbury’s drive on the warning track to end the inning.
Jarred Cosart had his fourth straight no-decision after allowing two runs and seven hits with five walks and three strikeouts in five-plus innings.
Houston Manager Bo Porter was ejected in the ninth by home plate umpire Mark Carlson for arguing a foul tip third strike call.
NOTES: Houston selected the contract of RHP Jorge De Leon from Triple-A Oklahoma City and optioned RHP Jose Cisnero there on. The 25-year-old De Leon has not allowed a run in five relief outings over 71/3 innings for Oklahoma City. Houston DH Chris Carter had a second straight game off on Wednesday. Porter said he wanted to give Carter some time to work in the cage and try to figure out a way to get back on track after hitting .107 over his last 10 games. Porter said Carter will be back in the lineup on Friday. Houston SS Jonathan Villar sat out with a sprained left thumb.
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