BOSTON — As a bench player, Eric Hinske doesn’t often get much notice about when he’ll be playing.

Last night, he learned about three hours before game time that he’d be starting at first base in place of Kevin Youkilis (sore left quadriceps), and he made the most of his chance, going 2-for-4 with a key single in the third and a bases-loaded triple in the fifth that gave the Red Sox some much-needed breathing room in their 7-3 win over the Rangers.

Acquired last year from the Blue Jays, Hinske has played in 40 games this season and has struggled in his limited opportunities — he came into the night batting .203 in 74 at-bats. After two hits, he’s now batting .218.

But last night, he was a key component as the Sox scored more than four runs for just the third time in their last 13 games.

“They told me during batting practice (that I’d be starting), so they gave me pretty good notice,” Hinske said. “I tried to prepare like I always do.”

In the third, Hinske was down, 0-2, in the count but ended up with a leadoff single to right field. Two batters later, he and Jacoby Ellsbury scored on a ground-rule double by Dustin Pedroia.

But it was in the fifth that Hinske became one of the game’s heroes.

In the top of the frame, Kason Gabbard had given up his only runs of the night, on a three-run homer to right by Brad Wilkerson. That made the score 4-3, and after looking to be in cruise control, things got a lot tighter for Boston.

Manny Ramirez and J.D. Drew had back-to-back walks, and a two-out single to left by Jason Varitek loaded the bases. Hinske quickly went up, 2-0, on reliever Willie Eyre, then drilled a shot to straightaway center. Kenny Lofton gave chase. He leaped for the ball near the wall — a bad idea at Fenway — but couldn’t make the catch.

“I got the hitter’s count; that was big,” Hinske said of his at-bat. “I knew I hit it good, but I knew it wasn’t high enough to go out at center field (for a grand slam). After Wilkerson hit the three-run homer, it was big to get those (runs) back right away.”

Manager Terry Francona was glad to see Hinske get the timely hit.

“It was a great swing, but from where I was sitting, we didn’t see the ball come down right away. I know (Lofton) got close (to catching the ball). It was three big runs — obviously — I’m stating the obvious. It’s nice to be rewarded for a good swing, especially with the bases loaded,” Francona said. “(Hinske’s) about as professional as you get. When he does something, the dugout erupts, too.”

Hinske was happy for his turnaround at the plate — he had gone 0-for-4 on Sunday.

“I was hoping to get a hit or a walk in my first at-bat, try to feel good,” he said. “It was good to be part of it tonight.”

Though he hasn’t seen the field much this season, Hinske is still working on his game, taking extra batting practice every chance he gets and stepping in against the curveball machine with hitting coach Dave Magadan.

smanza@projo.com