ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Wilyer Abreu put Boston ahead to stay with an RBI single after his earlier two-run homer, Nick Sogard had a two-run single for his first big league hit and the Red Sox beat the Texas Rangers 11-6 on Friday night.
Ceddanne Rafaela and Rafael Devers also went deep for the wild card-chasing Red Sox, who have won consecutive games for the first time since before the All-Star break. They are 5-8 in that stretch and remained two games behind Minnesota for the AL's third wild card.
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Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Luis Garcia (40) and catcher Connor Wong, right, celebrate after defeating the Texas Rangers in a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. Boston beat Texas 11-6. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Texas Rangers' Marcus Semien runs the bases on his two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Boston Red Sox's Rafael Devers celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Luis Garcia throws during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien fields a ground ball hit by Boston Red Sox's Jarren Duran during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Boston Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela, left, celebrates in his dugout with Nick Sogard (75) after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Boston Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela runs the bases on his two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Texas Rangers' Marcus Semien (2) is congratulated by Nathaniel Lowe (30) after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Texas Rangers starting pitcher José Ureña throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Boston Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu, bottom, watches as a solo home run hit by Texas Rangers' Corey Seager heads toward fans during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Texas Rangers' Corey Seager (5) is congratulated by manager Bruce Bochy after hitting a solo home during the first inning of a baseball against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Kutter Crawford throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Boston Red Sox's Nick Sogard runs the bases on a two-run home run by Ceddanne Rafaela during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Boston Red Sox's Wilyer Abreu, center, is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
“We were very aggressive early in counts, but not trying to do too much,” Red Sox manger Alex Cora said. “We had some quality at-bats, we ran the bases well, and then obviously we hit the ball out of the ballpark.”
Corey Seager hit two solo homers, added a sacrifice fly and scored three of the Texas runs. Marcus Semien and Leody Taveras also had long balls.
All four Texas homers came off starter Kutter Crawford (7-8), who struck out five and walked one in 5 1/3 innings.
“My execution has got be better. ... I gave up some damage, and all those pitches were pretty much over the middle of the plate,” Crawford said. “It feels good when your offense can put up seven, eight, nine runs. We can swing it with the best of them, we’ve kind of seen it all this year. Fortunately for me, tonight they had my back.”
Rangers right-hander José Ureña (3-6) allowed seven runs and eight hits pitching into the fifth.
The reigning World Series champion Rangers have lost three games in a row, and six of seven, since a five-game winning streak that got them within a game of .500 — they haven't had a winning record since 24-23 on May 18, and have been in third place in the AL West since June 20.
“Just got to play better,” Seager said. “There’s always an urgency. You have to. I've talked about it all year, it's about winning series, we've tried to do it all year. Haven’t done a good job of it lately.”
Seager put Texas up 1-0 in the first before Abreu's two-run shot in the second. After Taveras and Seager homered for a 3-2 lead in the third, the Red Sox responded with a four-run fourth.
Boston's big inning began with four consecutive hits, with Connor Wong's RBI single tying the game before Abreu followed with his. They both scored on a sharp liner to right by Sogard, the 26-year-old second baseman who made his MLB debut after being called up from Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday.
Rafaela homered in the sixth and Devers hit his 25th in the ninth off Andrew Chafin, who made his first appearance for the Rangers since his trade from Detroit on Tuesday.
Luis García retired all three batters he faced in the ninth in his first Red Sox game since they got him in a deadline deal from the Los Angeles Angels.
DOUBLING UP
The Rangers turned double plays in three consecutive innings. That included Ezequiel Durán making a catch in right field and then throwing out Tyler O'Neill trying to advance to third base to end the fifth inning. It was Durán's first career start in right.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Red Sox: RHP Chris Martin (right elbow inflammation) is expected to throw a bullpen session Saturday, and could then go on a minor league rehab assignment. He last pitched July 3. ... RHP Kenley Jansen tweaked his back in his last appearance Wednesday, but manager Alex Cora said before the game that the closer was “doing OK, ready to go.” Jansen was warming up before Boston scored two runs in the ninth inning.
Rangers: Three-time Cy Young Award winner and active career strikeout leader Max Scherzer was placed on the 15-day injured list because of right shoulder fatigue. ... Two-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom is set to throw another bullpen Saturday. If all goes well, he could then face hitters for the first time since his elbow surgery last June.
UP NEXT
All-Star right-hander Tanner Houck (8-7, 2.79 ERA) pitches for Boston on Saturday night. The Rangers hadn't announced their starter.
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Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Luis Garcia (40) and catcher Connor Wong, right, celebrate after defeating the Texas Rangers in a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. Boston beat Texas 11-6. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Texas Rangers' Marcus Semien runs the bases on his two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Boston Red Sox's Rafael Devers celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Luis Garcia throws during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien fields a ground ball hit by Boston Red Sox's Jarren Duran during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Boston Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela, left, celebrates in his dugout with Nick Sogard (75) after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Boston Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela runs the bases on his two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Texas Rangers' Marcus Semien (2) is congratulated by Nathaniel Lowe (30) after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Texas Rangers starting pitcher José Ureña throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Boston Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu, bottom, watches as a solo home run hit by Texas Rangers' Corey Seager heads toward fans during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Texas Rangers' Corey Seager (5) is congratulated by manager Bruce Bochy after hitting a solo home during the first inning of a baseball against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Kutter Crawford throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Boston Red Sox's Nick Sogard runs the bases on a two-run home run by Ceddanne Rafaela during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Boston Red Sox's Wilyer Abreu, center, is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
KARTALKAYA, Turkey (AP) — As flames tore through a 12-story hotel at a popular ski resort in northwestern Turkey, friends Esra Karakisa and Halime Cetin stood helpless, paralyzed by the horror unfolding before them: people leaning out of smoke-filled rooms pleading for help and others making the harrowing decision to leap out.
The fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Kartalya, in the Koroglu mountains in Bolu province, on Tuesday left at least 76 people dead and 51 injured. It came near the start of a two-week winter break for schools when hotels in the region are filled to capacity.
“There was no one around. They were calling for firefighters. They were breaking the windows. Some could no longer stand the smoke and flames, and they jumped,” Cetin, an employee at a hotel adjacent to the Grand Kartal, told The Associated Press.
Her colleague, Karakisa said: “It was awful. We were terrified. People were screaming. The cries of children especially affected us. We wanted to help but there was nothing we could do. I couldn’t look it was so terrifying.”
Authorities have assigned six prosecutors to investigate the cause of the fire, which appeared to have started at the restaurant section on the fourth floor of of the wooden-clad hotel and spread quickly through to the upper floors.
At least nine people have been detained for questioning, including the hotel owner.
Flags at government buildings and Turkish diplomatic missions abroad were lowered to half-staff as the nation shocked by the disaster observed a day of mourning for the victims.
Only 45 of the 76 bodies have been identified so far, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said late Tuesday.
One of the injured was in serious condition, while 29 others were treated and released, the Health Ministry said.
The hotel had 238 registered guests, according to Yerlikaya. The fire was reported at 3:27 a.m. and the fire department began to respond at 4:15 a.m., he told reporters.
Officials and witnesses said the rescue efforts were hampered by the fact that part of the 161-room hotel is on the side of a cliff.
According to Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, the hotel underwent inspections in 2021 and 2024, and “no negative situation regarding fire competence” was reported by the fire department.
Karakisa said she eventually brought clothes and water for the survivors while others rushed to bring mattresses for people to jump onto or propped up ladders against the wall to help them escape.
Among those who placed mattresses was Baris Salgur, a cleaner in a nearby hotel.
“They were saying, ‘Please help, we’re burning!' They were saying, ‘Call the fire department,' we were trying to calm them down, but there was nothing we could do, we couldn’t get in either,” Salgur, 19, said. " It was very high, we couldn’t extend a rope or anything of course. We were trying to do the best we could.”
“People jumped from a great height, I couldn’t look. There were two women at the top floor. The flames had literally entered the room. They couldn’t stand it and jumped,” he said.
Salgur described seeing a man on the top floors holding a baby and shouting for a mattress he could throw his baby on.
"We told him to be a little calmer. He waited, then the fire department came and took them (out), but unfortunately the baby had died from smoke inhalation,” he said.
Associated Press writers Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, and Robert Badendieck in Istanbul contributed to this report.
Tightened bed sheets hang from a window of a hotel where a fire broke out at the Kartalkaya ski resort in Bolu province, northwest Turkey, on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
A Turkish flag flag flies at half staff outside a hotel where a fire broke out at the Kartalkaya ski resort in Bolu province, northwest Turkey, on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Firefighters and emergency teams work on the aftermath of a fire that broke out at a hotel in the ski resort of Kartalkaya, located in Bolu province, northwest Turkey, on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Firefighters work to extinguish a fire in a hotel at a ski resort of Kartalkaya, located in Bolu province, in northwest Turkey, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (Enes Ozkan/IHA via AP)