Red Sox try to stay on track against Rangers

(SportsNetwork.com) - The Boston Red Sox aim to stay on track and shoot for a series win over the Texas Rangers Wednesday in the middle test of a three-game set at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox captured a 4-3 victory in Tuesday's series opener, as David Ortiz and Mike Napoli both homered and finished with two hits. Hanley Ramirez finished 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and a run scored, while Mookie Betts and Dustin Pedroia had two hits apiece.

Wade Miley took home the win in seven innings of work and allowed two runs with seven strikeouts and a walk.

"Getting into more of the rhythm, you create a little confidence with a good (game) then another good one," Miley said.

Boston has won six of its last nine games and is 2 1/2 games off the American League East lead. It will host the LA Angels for three games this weekend and has homered in 14 of the last 17 home games.

Ortiz has reached base safely in his 16 games at Fenway Park this season.

Joe Kelly draws the start for the Red Sox Wednesday and is 0-2 with a 7.16 earned run average in his last five starts. Kelly did not record a decision in last Thursday's 2-1 win at Seattle and pitched 6 1/3 sharp innings, allowing one run and five hits with three walks and two K's.

Kelly is 1-2 with a 5.58 ERA in seven outings this season and threw five scoreless innings of relief in his only appearance against Texas.

The Rangers opened a nine-game road trip on a down note and starter Yovani Gallardo was roughed up for four runs and 10 hits, including homers to Ortiz and Napoli, in five innings.

"The one to Ortiz was a pretty good pitch," Gallardo said, "but the other one to Napoli was right down the middle."

Leonys Martin homered and Prince Fielder finished with a team-high two hits for the Rangers, losers in seven of their last 11 games.

Texas still has the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians to play on this journey and hopes Phil Klein can pitch the club back on track Wednesday. Klein will make his first big league start and is 0-0 with a 7.71 ERA in six relief appearances.

Klein is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Round Rock before the game in place of injured left-hander Ross Detwiler, who is on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his left shoulder. Klein has a 1-0 record with a 1.69 ERA in six games (2 starts) with the Express.

The Red Sox won four of six meetings against the Rangers last season. The two clubs will play four games in Arlington later this month.