By KEN POWTAK, Associated Press

BOSTON – Rob Refsnyder hit a game-winning single with two outs in the 10th inning after pinch hitter Enmanuel Valdez tied the score with a leadoff double to give the Boston Red Sox a 5-4 win over the struggling Texas Rangers and end a four-game losing streak on Monday night.

The Red Sox won three games against Houston last weekend, beating them 23-10.

Corey Seager tied the game for reigning World Series champion Texas (55-64) with a two-run homer. The winning goal was the ninth in twelve games and a season low of nine games under .500.

Before the game, Boston exposed Outfielder Jarren Duran for two games without pay after making a homophobic Bow at a fan behind home base who booed him during Sunday’s loss to Houston.

With automatic runner Romy Gonzalez at second base, Valdez hit a drive to the edge of the triangle in right-center against Gerson Garabito (0-1), which narrowly overtook Leody Taveras and bounced into the stands for a ground-rule double.

Nick Sogard hit a single to center and pinch-hit Mickey Gasper, in his major league debut against Walter Pennington, walked one out to load the bases. After a force home ball by Masataka Yoshida’s grounder, Refsnyder hit a 2-0 pitch to win the game.

“We gave up the double, now we have our hands full,” said Rangers manager Bruce Bochy. “We got two outs and had a chance to get out of there.”

Texas closer Kirby Yates struck out Refsnyder in the bottom of the eighth inning with the bases loaded.

“That was a letdown in the eighth round – I was facing Kirby and couldn’t get through,” said Refsnyder. “It was nice to get another chance right there. I was pretty disappointed that I didn’t get through for the team.”

Josh Winckowski (3-1) pitched a hitless inning to earn the win.

Valdez was asked if he thought his drive could be intercepted.

“Yes, maybe, because it was a high ball, but luckily the ball bounced and we were able to equalise the game,” he said through an interpreter.

Josh Smith’s grounder to shortstop brought automatic runner Marcus Semien home from third base in the 10th inning.

Rangers relief pitcher Andrew Chafin scored two runs to give Boston a 3-1 lead before Seager hit Bailey Horn’s first-pitch sweeper into the right-field seats in the seventh inning.

With the score tied 1-1 in the fifth inning, Chafin replaced starter Tyler Mahle with a runner on second base and two outs. Chafin was trailing 3-0 against Rafael Devers before Bochy decided to intentionally walk him.

Chafin threw a wild pitch that advanced both runners before Connor Wong was intentionally walked to load the bases. Chafin then walked Gonzalez and Danny Jansen, forcing two runs.

After being removed from the paternity list before the game, Boston starter Brayan Bello allowed one run and four hits in six innings, striking out five times and allowing three runs.

Red Sox shortstop David Hamilton stole his 30th base, joining Jacoby Ellsbury in 2008 and Amby McConnell in 1908 as the only rookie in club history to reach that mark.

Mahle scored two runs and three hits in 4 2/3 innings. He had seven strikeouts and three walks.

“I felt good,” he said after setting a season-high 92 throws. “I felt like I could have thrown further. Of course, I shouldn’t have done that.”

TRAINING ROOM

Rangers: RHP Jacob deGrom threw two simulated innings before the game against teammates Travis Jankowski and Ezequiel Duran. It was deGrom’s second live session since undergoing elbow surgery last June. The right-hander is expected to have one more, and after that the club will decide when he will enter rehab.

Red Sox: SS Trevor Story took live batting practice on the field for the first time as he recovers much faster than expected from his April shoulder surgery. He has been hitting grounders for a while and hitting appears to be the final step before he goes into rehab. He was originally thought to be out for the rest of the season after surgery. … Devers was back in the lineup after having Sunday off. … LHP James Paxton was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right calf strain.

Next

Rangers RHP José Ureña (3-7, 3.74 ERA) faces Red Sox RHP Kutter Crawford (7-9, 4.11) in the middle game of the series on Tuesday.