ERA in three starts. However, he looked much sharper this time, showing better command and poise on the mound.
After Heim’s go-ahead homer in the fifth, the Rangers extended their lead in the sixth when Marcus Semien doubled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Corey Seager. Texas added another run in the inning on an RBI single by Adolis García, giving them a 4-1 cushion.
Houck, who had been solid in his previous starts, struggled to contain Texas’ offense, allowing seven hits while striking out five and walking two.
The Rangers’ bullpen took over after Leiter’s strong outing, with Jonathan Hernández, David Robertson, and José Leclerc combining for four scoreless innings to secure the win. Leclerc picked up the save, striking out two in a clean ninth inning.
With the victory, the defending World Series champions improved their record, while the Red Sox continued to search for consistency early in the season. The two teams will face off again on Saturday in the second game of the series.