ARLINGTON, Texas -- Paul Byrd was by no means the brightest star in the pitching constellation for a team looking to fortify itself for a stretch run.

The Red Sox, though, have to be thrilled with their acquisition of the veteran right-hander, obtained in a trade with Cleveland for minor leaguers on Aug. 12. On Sunday, Byrd blanked the Rangers on three hits over 6 2/3 innings in Boston's 7-2 triumph over Texas at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Since losing his Red Sox debut, the fast-working, strike-throwing Byrd has won four in a row. He's 4-1 with a 3.82 earned-run average since joining Boston.

Byrd was backed offensively Sunday by three two-run innings and a solo homer by Jason Bay.

Alex Cora's RBI triple and a single by Coco Crisp made it a 2-0 game against Texas starter Brandon McCarthy in the second. David Ortiz's homer boosted the lead to 4-0 in the fifth, RBI singles by Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia in the sixth expanded the advantage to 6-0, and Bay connected in the seventh.

Byrd surrendered an alarming seven homers over his first four starts, totaling 26 1/3 innings. Sunday he was in trouble in only the third inning when a single, a hit batsman and a walk loaded the bases with two outs. A three-pitch whiff of Michael Young ended that spot of trouble.

"I was able to keep the ball down today, and I was able to move my slider in and out," said Byrd. "And this sounds like a broken record, but I had great defense behind me."

Byrd said he didn't know how to react when he walked toward the dugout after being lifted with two outs and two on in the seventh.

"I've never come out of a game on the road where I got a standing ovation for pitching well. I'm appreciative of all of the Red Sox fans who were here," said Byrd. "I didn't know if I should tip my hat or not in Texas. I thought they might be mad at me."

Dustin Pedroia, whose red-hot bat has finally cooled off a tad, nevertheless turned in a scintillating and very important defensive play in the second inning Sunday.

With a runner at first and one out and the Sox ahead, 2-0, Pedroia not only stole a hit from Hank Blalock, he started an inning-ending double play on Blalock's vicious one-hop smash a step or so to the second baseman's left.

Pedroia's incredibly soft hands were able to react quickly and snare the bouncer as the ball exploded high off the infield dirt. Pedroia quickly spun around and gave shortstop Alex Cora a perfect feed. Cora's relay to first was in plenty of time to double up Blalock.

At the plate, Pedroia went 2 for 11 in the series, but still leads the American League in hitting, at .330.

Sellout record will be set Monday

The Red Sox will establish a Major League Baseball record Monday night at Fenway Park in their game against Tampa Bay.

It will be the team's 456th consecutive sellout at home, breaking a tie with the Cleveland Indians, who sold out 455 straight games from June 12, 1995 to April 2, 2001. The Sox' streak began on May 15, 2003. Over the course of those 455 sellouts, Boston's record at Fenway is 295-159, for a winning percentage of .651.

Only three other organizations in professional sports can boast longer sellout streaks at home, and all three are in the National Basketball Association. Portland has the longest streak, at 744 games (1977-1995), followed by the Celtics at 567 (1980-1995) and Chicago at 515 (1987-2000).

Coco on a roll

Crisp extended his hitting streak to a season-best nine games, batting .529 (18-for-34) over that stretch, raising his overall average to .284, the highest it has been since he was batting .287 on May 24. Crisp is also hustling. He beat out the back end of a potential inning-ending double play in the sixth, effort that was followed by run-scoring singles by Ellsbury and Pedroia.

Around the bases

Third baseman Mike Lowell, who came off the disabled list on Friday and played the first two games of this series, was given Sunday off from the starting lineup. No problems with his oblique, which was strained and sent him to the DL, said Francona, just a day off as he eases back into the routine. … J.D. Drew is hoping to be activated for the Tampa Bay series. Francona said, though, that he isn't sure if Drew (herniated disc) will be able to play just yet. … David Aardsma (groin) will join Lowell for a rehab assignment in a playoff game in Albany tomorrow night. Francona said Aardsma will throw an inning or an inning-plus, Francona said.