Arlington, Texas — Two knuckleballs that ended up in the seats in right field and one that eluded his catcher's glove were the undoing of Boston Red Sox right-hander Steven Wright on Friday night.

Texas' Josh Hamilton homered in his first two at-bats, helping the Rangers beat the Red Sox 7-4. The homers came in the second and fourth innings, on pitches measured at 74 and 66 mph. Wright (2-2) also uncorked a third-inning wild pitch to score a run.

"Both of the pitches to Hamilton were up where he likes it and moving to the middle of the plate," Wright said.

Wright made his third consecutive start in place of the injured Justin Masterson. The 2006 second-round draftee who didn't reach the majors until 2013 came off his longest career outing, 6 1-3 innings last Saturday in a win over the Los Angeles Angels. He allowed three runs and five hits in 5 2-3 innings Friday.

"They put some good swings on the ball," said Wright, who turned to the knuckleball in 2011. "For the most part, the ball is breaking like it has all season."

"He kept things under control," Boston manager John Farrell said of his starter. "I thought he had good action on the knuckleball. He gave us a chance to win."

After Hamilton's homers in the second and fourth innings gave Texas a 2-0 lead, the Red Sox tied the score in the fourth with the aid of a throwing error by Rangers right-hander Yovani Gallardo (5-6), who limited Boston to one earned run and four hits in six innings.

With Texas leading 5-2 going to the eighth inning, Hanley Ramirez pulled the Red Sox within a run by homering for the second time in two games, his 12th of the year, after not hitting one since April 29. But the Rangers answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning.

Early exits

Farrell and 1B Mike Napoli were ejected in the eighth inning soon after Napoli, batting following Ramirez's home run, struck out looking. "The (Texas) catcher was set up on the line of the left-handed batter's box on a number of pitches and got the call," Farrell said.

Still no Papi

David Ortiz, hitting .216 this season and .200 this month, sat out for the second straight game. The Red Soxcame to Texas after getting swept in a three-game series at Minnesota, during which Ortiz went 1 for 12.

Trainer's room

Red Sox: SS Xander Bogaerts returned to the lineup after leaving Thursday's game in the second inning after being hit by a pitch on his left wrist. He went 0 for 3 and had a sacrifice fly.

Rangers: LHP Ross Detwiler (left shoulder inflammation) is scheduled to pitch two rehab innings today for Double-A Frisco. After going 0-5 in seven starts, Detwiler will move to the bullpen when he comes off the DL.

Up next

Boston: LHP Wade Miley (4-4) is on a three-game winning streak after allowing only one run in eight innings last Sunday at home against the Angels. Miley did lose a milking contest before Friday's game to Texas RHP Ross Ohlendorf.

Rangers: RHP Alex "Chi Chi" Gonzalez is scheduled to make his major league debut, his contract being purchased Saturday from Triple-A Round Rock. The 23-year-old is 3-5 with a 4.15 ERA in eight starts for Round Rock. He was the first of Texas' first-round draft picks in 2013, 23rd overall, and was named the organization's minor league pitcher of the year last season.