By Sean McAdam
CSNNE.com Red Sox InsiderFollow @sean_mcadam
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Tuesday night, the Red Sox ended their futility at The Ballpark in Arlington with a loud thud, bashing 14 hits for 11 runs.
As it turns out, they were just warming up. For the second night in a row, the Red Sox raced out to a 6-0 lead in the first few innings, then coasted to an easy victory.
The Sox belted out 16 hits -- three of them homers -- and pasted the Texas Rangers, 13-2. Coupled with the Yankees' loss, the Red Sox took over first place in the A.L. East by a game.
Carl Crawford (double, sacrifice fly, home run) tied a career high with five RBI and Dustin Pedroia (two singles) Adrian Gonzalez (home run) and Jacoby Ellsbury (home run) added two RBI each as the Red Sox won for the fifth time in seven games on their current road trip.
Josh Beckett didn't allow a base hit until Mike Napoli blasted a 412-foot solo homer to left with two outs in the fourth.
Beckett, 11-5, didn't allow another run. The three other hits he allowed over six innings were all singles.
Boston Red Sox
Franklin Morales, Matt Albers and Jonathan Papelbon each contributed an inning of relief.
Making his return to the lineup after a week-long absence due to bursitis of his right heel, David Ortiz singled and drove home a run in the first, then later added a double.
Sean McAdam can be reached at smcadam@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Sean on Twitter at http:twitter.comsean_mcadam