Boston — Rob Refsnyder hit a game-ending single in a four-run ninth inning for Boston as the Red Sox rallied to beat the Texas Rangers 9-8 on Thursday night.

The Red Sox trailed 8-3 in the eighth and 8-5 entering the ninth. Boston promptly loaded the bases with none out against Jonathan Hernán-dez (1-1). Rafael Devers hit a two-run double and Kiké Hernández hit an RBI single to tie the game before Refsnyder completed the comeback with a drive to left.

Refsnyder took a wide turn around first before a swarm of teammates caught him and piled on after storming out of the dugout. The Red Sox entered Thursday having lost 7 of 10.

“I think we’ve all been trying to do our best and working hard. A lot of the guys have been frustrated, so it was nice to come through and it’s always nice to celebrate with your team-mates,” Refsnyder said.

Jeurys Familia (2-1) worked a scoreless ninth for a Boston staff that was constantly in trouble. The Rangers stranded 12 runners as they dropped their fifth straight.

Adolis Garcia hit a two-run homer in the eighth to help put Texas in position to stop its skid.

In the bottom half, Devers began Boston's comeback with an RBI double. He scored on a single by Christian Arroyo, who also drove in three runs.

“That last inning was what we expected out of the lineup — swing at strikes. If not, keep the line moving,” Boston manager Alex Cora said.

Rookie Rangers starter Glenn Otto struck out a career-best eight batters and departed after Alex Verdugo homered leading off the sixth to get the Red Sox within 4-3.

Veteran Rich Hill started for Boston and al-lowed four runs on five hits and four walks.

Garcia drove in three runs for the Rangers. Co-rey Seager had an RBI single in the third and a run-scoring double in the fifth.

Late night

Refsnyder said he had an extra cup of coffee before the game after a rough night. The Rex Sox got home late after concluding a three-game series at Minnesota, and he was greeted at home by a grumpy toddler.

“I didn’t sleep well at all. My son was pretty cranky — we got in at like 5:30 in the morning, so maybe I shouldn’t sleep very well more often,” Refsnyder said.

New kid?

A boy stationed in the front row in center field, prepared with a glove and clad in a No. 9 Red Sox jersey, caught Verdugo's homer in the sixth. The boy leapt several times in celebration and high-fived fans in all directions. The play was re-viewed for potential fan interference, but um-pires quickly confirmed the home run.

Trainer’s room

Rangers: Transferred RHP Josh Sborz (right el-bow sprain) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL, ending his season. ... Recalled OF Nick Solak from Triple-A Round Rock and added RHP Jesús Tinoco from Round Rock to the expanded roster.

Red Sox: RHP Nathan Eovaldi (right shoulder inflammation) has resumed throwing but man-ager Alex Cora wasn’t ready to offer a potential return date. Cora said the club was going to continue to be cautious with Eovaldi, who missed 33 games earlier in the season with in-flammation in his lower back. ... Recalled C Con-nor Wong from Triple-A Worcester and added RHP Eduard Bazardo to the expanded roster.

Up next

LHP Dallas Keuchel (2-8, 8.84 ERA) makes his second start for the Rangers and faces Boston RHP Nick Pivetta (9-10, 4.40) Friday night in the second of the four-game series.