MLB: Texas 3, Boston 1

Texas ran its winning streak to four by sweeping Boston in a three-game series.

The Red Sox have lost five straight.

Boston dropped two games behind the New York Yankees in the American League East and saw its advantage over Texas in the wild card chase reduced to 2 1/2 games.

Nippert (2-0), making only his fourth appearance of the season, was given an emergency start when Vicente Padilla developed flu-like symptoms.

The surprise starter held Boston to a run on five hits over 5 2/3 innings.

Mathis, who joined the Rangers in June, struck out four and allowed a lone hit over the final 3 1/3 to record the first save of his career.

Mathis has pitched in just 19 games in parts of two major league seasons.

Boston's only run came on Nick Green's homer in the third, but Ian Kinsler promptly tied it with a home run in the bottom half of the inning.

Texas took the lead by scratching out two runs in the fourth. With runners on second and third, a ground out by Taylor Teagarden produced the first run of the inning. Elvis Andrus drove in the other with a suicide squeeze bunt.

Clay Buchholz (1-1) suffered the loss, giving up three runs on six hits in four innings.

It was the second start for Buchholz since being called up from Class AAA. He allowed a run on four hits over 5 2/3 against Toronto in his first outing .

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.