MLB: Boston 13, Texas 2

ARLINGTON, Texas, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Carl Crawford had one of three Boston homers and drove in five runs Wednesday in pacing the Red Sox to a 13-2 smashing of Texas.

Boston has produced 29 runs and 30 hits over two games after being shut out in the opener of the series Monday. The Red Sox moved a game in front of the New York Yankees at the top of the American League East.

The Rangers have dropped five out of seven, a streak that began when they gave up two ninth-inning runs in 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.

Crawford had a two-run double in a four-run first inning, a sacrifice fly in the fifth and a two-run blast in the seventh. Jacoby Ellsbury and Adrian Gonzalez also had two-run homers as part of a 16-hit attack.

Boston's two straight wins have come after Texas had defeated the Red Sox in their first five meetings of the season.

The easy victory went to Josh Beckett (11-5), who gave up four hits and a run over six innings. Matt Harrison (10-9) was roughed up for seven runs on 11 hits in five innings to take the loss.