"Every time you go out, you think, `Today's the day,' " said Arroyo, who was throwing in the low 90s. "I had a good feeling in Atlanta [allowing two runs in seven innings in a no-decision last weekend]. You keep plugging away. Keep going out. I keep feeling good on the mound and eventually I knew I was going to get [a win]."
Arroyo, who had the least run support on the staff (3.7 runs per start), had plenty of offensive support from the sizzling Johnny Damon, who went 4 for 5 with a pair of solo home runs, which brought him out for a curtain call in the eighth after his second homer.
Damon, who has a team-high 14-game hitting streak, is 19 for 32 (.594) in his last six games, raising his average from .290 to .319. He's also hit five homers in his last 10 games and he's scored at least one run in 13 of his last 14 games.
"That guy is on [fire]," said slugger David Ortiz.
"What he's done with the number of at-bats under his belt is amazing," said manager Terry Francona. "He's given us a big, big lift."
And Kevin Millar, not known for his base running or defense, came through on both fronts, stealing his fifth career base in 727 major league games as well as throwing the leather around the first base bag as if he were George Scott.
"I think Manny and I are now competing for the Gold Glove," mused Millar.
Certainly with a sweep of the A's and winning the first game against Texas, hope sprung eternal at Fenway. The Sox are one game ahead of the A's in the wild-card race after being down three last week. The Sox are six games behind the Yankees in the AL East.
Arroyo last won May 21, beating Toronto, 11-5. He had lost his last six decisions and didn't figure in the outcome of a 6-3, 12-inning loss to the Braves July 2, despite pitching seven innings, allowing five hits and only two runs.
But Arroyo (3-7, 4.09) kept the mighty Rangers -- league leaders in runs (475) and homers (130) -- in check.
