ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Nelson Cruz homered on the first pitch thrown by Tim Wakefield in the 11th inning and the Texas Rangers beat the Boston Red Sox 10-9 Friday night to cap their biggest comeback victory this season.

Cruz hit the ball deep into the left-field seats on a knuckleball thrown by Wakefield (3-9), the seventh Boston reliever.

Darren O’Day (4-2) worked a perfect 11th inning against Boston’s Nos. 2-4 hitters, extending a team record with his 29th consecutive scoreless appearance. His stretch of 26 1-3 consecutive scoreless innings is the longest active streak in the majors.

Josh Hamilton had four more hits to raise his majors-best average to .362 and scored four times.

Pedroia ready for

rehab assignment

Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia is ready to begin a rehab assignment.

Pedroia, who has been on the disabled list since June 26 with a broken bone in his left foot, is scheduled to play second base for Triple-A Pawtucket on Saturday night and be the designated hitter Sunday. Boston has a day off Monday, when Pedroia will be evaluated.

If all goes well, the Red Sox plan to activate Pedroia on Tuesday before their home game against the Los Angeles Angels.

Pedroia has been running and working out this week without any setbacks.

The 2008 AL MVP fractured his left foot when he fouled a ball off his leg June 25 against San Francisco.

Pedroia is batting .292 with 12 homers and 41 RBIs in 73 games this year.

Catcher Jason Varitek, out since July 2 with a broken right foot, is with the Red Sox for the series in Texas and ran before Friday night’s game.

Manager Terry Francona said Varitek’s recovery is a week or two behind Pedroia’s.

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