G24: Red Sox 8, Astros 4

Astros  - 200 000 100 - 4  5  1
Red Sox - 040 100 30x - 8 12  1

David Ortiz went 2-for-3 (he's batting .519) and drove in three runs as the Red Sox held off a couple of late rallies from the Astros. At 17-7, Boston - the experts' pre-season pick for the AL East cellar - has the best record in MLB.

Houston managed to bring the potential go-ahead run to the plate in the seventh and - after the Red Sox added three runs to their total - the potential tying run to the plate in the eighth, but Junichi Tazawa and Alex Wilson, respectively, doused the two fires. Andrew Miller picked a quick and perfect ninth, striking out the last two batters.

Doubront (6.2-4-3-4-8, 103) had a brutal beginning to his night, but after the first inning, he was dominant. Facing the first six Astros, he allowed a hit, three walks, a wild pitch, and an HBP - and two runs. From the second through the sixth, however, he allowed only one hit. Doubront struck out two batters in the second and fifth innings, and fanned the side in the third.

Boston took care of business against Peacock (3.1-6-5-5-3, 90) in the second. Jarrod Saltalamacchia walked with one out, and a double by Will Middlebrooks and a walk to Stephen Drew loaded the bases. Jacoby Ellsbury's single scored two runs and after Dustin Pedroia walked to re-load the sacks, Ortiz doubled home two more. ... Flo's sacrifice fly in the fourth made it 5-2. ... Drew, Daniel Nava and Pedroia had RBI hits in the seventh.

Pedroia reached base four times with two singles and two walks. ... Middlebrooks singled, doubled, and walked and Drew singled and walked twice. Both scored twice, as did Salty.

Brad Peacock / Felix Doubront

Ellsbury, CF
Nava, RF
Pedroia, 2B
Ortiz, DH
Napoli, 1B
Carp, LF
Saltalamacchia, C
Middlebrooks, 3B
Drew, SS

The Red Sox and Rangers are tied for the best record in baseball: 16-7. ... The Red Sox have the best team slugging and OPS in the American League.