BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox have been bludgeoning opponents lately and did so again Sunday, with some help from Houston’s defense.

Xander Bogaerts hit a three-run homer and Ryan Hanigan had three singles and drove in four runs to lead the Red Sox to a 10-9 victory over the Astros.

Houston's Jose Altuve slides safely into third base as Boston's Josh Rutledge, top, waits for the ball in the fifth inning. The Associated Press

Xander Bogaerts, left, rounds the bases after hitting a three-run homer off Houston's Chris Devenski, right, in the second inning. The Associated Press

Hanigan’s last hit was a gift that scored the tying run when two outfielders watched a routine fly ball fall between them. He then scored the go-ahead run on Mookie Betts’ triple.

“I called it and didn’t catch it,” center fielder Carlos Gomez said. “We lost the game because of me today. There’s nothing I can say. We lost because of me.”

It was the seventh win in eight games for the Red Sox, who completed a 6-1 homestand in which they scored 73 runs.

“Those things happen when you’re playing good,” Boston’s Hanley Ramirez said. “Little things happen to go your way. We’ve got to keep taking advantage of that and keep adding wins every day.”

In a game that had four lead changes, the Red Sox regained the edge in the seventh against Scott Feldman (2-3). Hanigan’s fly fell between Gomez and right fielder George Springer, allowing Josh Rutledge to score from first. Betts then hit a drive into the right-center gap.

“I saw the play live with two outfielders converging and both stop,” Astros Manager A.J. Hinch said. “I knew something happened. You’ve got to play the game until the ball stops you. Gomez called it and for whatever reason stopped. George heard it and he stopped.”

Boston’s Jackie Bradley Jr. had a single to extend the majors’ longest hitting streak this season to 21 games.

“It wasn’t a pretty game today – on both sides,” Red Sox Manager John Farrell said. “The defense contributed in this one, or factored in heavily.”

Luis Valbuena had a three-run homer and five RBI for the Astros, and Carlos Correa added a solo homer.

Heath Hembree (2-0) pitched two innings of relief for the win. Craig Kimbrel got the final three outs for his 10th save.

Boston DH David Ortiz had the day off to rest his legs after getting a double, triple and homer in a game for the first time in his career Saturday.

Red Sox left fielder Brock Holt was ejected by home plate umpire Joe West after getting called out on strikes, one batter before Hanigan’s game-tying hit.

Trailing 8-6 in the sixth, the Astros scored three times. Third baseman Rutledge’s two-out throwing error allowed a run before Colby Rasmus’ RBI double tied it. Tyler White followed with a run-scoring single.

The Red Sox had pushed ahead with four runs in the second against rookie Chris Devenski. Hanigan had an RBI single before Bogaerts homered over the Green Monster, making it 6-3.

An inning later, Hanigan’s two-out, two-run single made it 8-4.

Boston starter Sean O’Sullivan was charged with six runs in 4 1/3 innings.

Devenski lasted just two innings in his fourth major-league start, getting tagged for six runs.

Valbuena homered into the bleachers over the Astros’ bullpen.

TRAINER’S ROOM

ASTROS: Gomez was shaken up diving back hard into second on an attempted pickoff but stayed in the game.

RED SOX: Farrell said left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (right knee) and right-hander Joe Kelly (right shoulder impingement) will both make another rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket.

STARTING FAST

The Red Sox scored two runs in the first inning. They’ve had multiple runs in the opening inning in 16 of their 38 games this season.

JUST TALL ENOUGH

Second baseman Dustin Pedroia made a leaping grab of Jason Castro’s liner to end the fourth.

ROSTER MOVES

Boston designated O’Sullivan after the game.

Hinch said the Astros would make a few moves. Outfielder Preston Tucker will be optioned to Triple-A, with a corresponding move to come Tuesday. Also, the club will make an undetermined move with Erik Kratz and reinstate outfielder Evan Gattis from the 15-day DL.

UP NEXT

ASTROS: Reigning Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel (2-5, 5.58 ERA) looks to end his four-game losing streak in the opener of a three-game series at the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday.

RED SOX: Right-hander Rick Porcello (6-1, 3.11) is set to face Royals right-hander Yordano Ventura (3-2, 4.62 ERA) in the first of three in Kansas City on Monday. Porcello has pitched at least six innings in 15 consecutive starts, the majors’ longest active streak.

Related Stories