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Final Score: Texas 17 - Boston 19

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Kevin Youkilis' second home run of the game -- a three-run blast in the bottom of the eighth inning -- broke a tie and lifted Boston to a wild 19-17 win over the Texas Rangers in the opener of a three- game series at Fenway Park. The Red Sox scored 10 runs in the first inning and at one point trailed 16-14 in the 37-hit slugfest.

The combined 36 runs tied the single-game American League record set on June 29, 1950 in Boston's 22-14 win over the Athletics.

"I can say I've never been in a game like that," said Rangers manager Ron Washington. "After that first inning when they had us down, 10-0, I think everybody in this ball park and everybody in all of Massachusetts thought the game was over."

David Ortiz belted a pair of three-run homers -- both in the first inning -- and Dustin Pedroia finished 5-for-6 with five runs scored and two RBI for the Red Sox, who improved to 8-3 in the month of August. The Sox trail the Rays by three games in the AL East.

Ian Kinsler belted a three-run homer and finished with four RBI, Marlon Byrd went 5-for-6 with three RBI and four runs scored while Chris Davis drove in four runs and scored twice for the Rangers, who have lost five of their last six games. Frank Catalanotto added three RBI in the loss.

Before the game, Boston placed veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield on the 15-day disabled list with tightness in the back of his right shoulder. Fellow knuckleballer Charlie Zink, 28, made his major league debut and allowed eight runs on 11 hits over 4 1/3 innings.

Also on Tuesday, the Red Sox acquired starting pitcher Paul Byrd from the Indians for a player to be named later or cash considerations. Byrd is expected to start on Wednesday.

Boston trailed 16-15 in the bottom of the eighth, but scored four runs to take control of this wild contest. With Frank Francisco (2-4) on the mound, pinch- hitter Jacoby Ellsbury drew a one-out walk, and Pedroia's double two batters later brought him home, tying the score at 16-16.

With Pedroia on second, Ortiz was intentionally walked to get to Youkilis, who put it into the seats above the Green Monster for a 19-16 advantage.

"We went to the eighth inning with the lead and a chance to win the game, but we just couldn't shut them down," said Washington.

Jonathan Papelbon allowed an RBI double off the bat of Brandon Boggs in the ninth, but got two quick outs thereafter to notch his 32nd save of 2008.

"That was an interesting night -- at some point, you're thinking about going for a field goal," joked Boston manager Terry Francona. "In the end, we won. That's what we set out to do. That's not exactly how we drew it up."

Hideki Okajima (3-2), who tossed 1 2/3 scoreless relief frames, got the win.

The Rangers trailed 14-10 when they came to bat in the top of the sixth before a five-run inning put them in front. With runners on first and third and nobody out, Byrd singled to plate Josh Hamilton, who had walked. Catalanotto followed with an RBI double, and Gerald Laird hit a sacrifice fly to make it 14-13. Another run scored when Youkilis couldn't handle Davis' hard grounder, and Kinsler capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly to give Texas a 15-14 lead.

Byrd's third RBI of the game, a single in the seventh, made it 16-14.

Boston answered in the home seventh with a run on a fielder's choice, cutting the lead to one.

Texas starter Scott Feldman was charged with 12 runs -- six earned -- on 10 hits in 2 2/3 innings. He walked three and fanned two batters.

The 10-run outburst by Boston in the home first included a pair of three-run homers by Ortiz. J.D. Drew walked to start the inning and after Pedroia singled, Ortiz belted a fastball over the wall in right field.

Three batters later with two runners on, Jed Lowrie doubled to score two, and after a walk, a Drew single plated Lowrie. Pedroia then drove home another run on an infield single, and Ortiz followed with his second three-run homer of the frame.

Davis hit a two-run single in the top of the second but the Sox added two more runs in the home third. A bases-loaded walk brought home Drew and Jason Bay's base hit saw Pedroia score for a 12-2 Boston advantage.

Texas continued to chip away at its deficit and put up eight runs in the top of the fifth to pull within a pair. Hamilton hit an RBI single and scored on an RBI double by Byrd. With two men on, Catalanotto doubled for two more runs before Davis' RBI single made it 12-7. Boston reliever David Aardsma then came out of the bullpen with two outs and runners on first and second. He was immediately greeted by a three-run blast by Kinsler that cleared the Monster and brought the visitors within 12-10.

"They were taking some pretty good swings in the fifth inning, but the earlier you go to your bullpen, especially against this ball club, you're running the risk that you just cant stop it," Francona said.

In the bottom of the fifth, Ortiz nearly hit his third home run of the game. His drive to the deepest part of the park appeared to be headed over the wall but a fan leaned over, caught the ball before it had a chance to leave the park and the umpires ruled it a ground-rule double. Youkilis, though, followed with a towering two-run homer to center and the Sox led, 14-10.