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Todd Hollandsworth (left) hit the game-winning home run off the Red Sox's Willie Banks. (Steven Senne/AP)

The Boston writers were waiting to talk to former Red Sox outfielder Carl Everett about his first impressions of the visitor's clubhouse. Those members of the fourth estate in the dugout wanted to pick the brain of Alex Rodriguez on everything from his chase of Henry Aaron to dealing with the distraction of labor issues.

On a night when Everett went hitless in four chances and A-Rod did not tie Ralph Kiner's record for home runs in four games (8), it was a 23-year-old right-hander who made the biggest impression in the Rangers' 3-2 10-inning win over the Red Sox before 33,742 at Fenway Park.

Joaquin Benoit kept his teammates within striking distance with what he called the best start of his very young Major League career. Benoit limited the Red Sox to two earned runs and six hits over six effective innings, striking out six, walking three and issuing two wild pitches in the process.

"I think I have been throwing more strikes," said Benoit, who made his sixth start. "Every time I come out, I have had a different attitude. On the road in Detroit and tonight here I was aggressive. At home against the White Sox I was more laid back. I think I have to be aggressive all the time to be effective and see what happens."

Benoit's aggressive approach came in handy at two critical junctures of the game. With Red Sox already ahead 1-0 in the second and runners on first and second, the right-hander struck out Manny Ramirez to end the inning. Then in the third, with a runner on first and two outs, he fanned Jason Varitek for the third out. Benoit came up with a strike out to end each of his first four innings.

"I feel my stuff is good enough where I can throw a strike and get guys out when runners are on base. I just wanted to keep it close but to do that you sometimes need to block everything else out, including the score, and do your job," Benoit said.

On a night when you're opposing the American League's winningest pitcher in Derek Lowe, it's a pretty good idea to put distractions on the back burner and focus on the job at hand. With Benoit leading the way, that's exactly what the Rangers were able to accomplish.

"Strikes and quality strikes," said skipper Jerry Narron. "He commanded his fastball well and changed speeds real well. That was a pretty tough atmosphere to come into, and it's nice to see a young guy like that come out and keep his composure -- even with the bases loaded in the sixth and only get out of that with one run. They didn't hit the ball hard there in the sixth to score a run."

That's not to say there wasn't a fair amount of rousing and grousing from the Fenway faithful directed in Everett's direction. From the moment he took his spot in right field, Everett heard it from the crowd.

Carl Everett   /   OF
	Height: 6'0" Weight: 215 Bats/Throws: B/R More info: Stats Splits Hit chart Expos site

"It all doesn't matter," said Everett afterward. "It's another team. We came here. We won. You guys [Boston media] have never been fair to me. What makes you think I want to talk to you guys. Come on now; get real. There's no story here."

"He can handle it," added teammate Rafael Palmeiro, whose locker is next to Everett's in the Fenway visitors' clubhouse. "If there's one guy who can handle the fans booing him and people getting on him, it's Carl. He can handle it. He can be a little stubborn but that's Carl. He's been nothing but great with us. I don't know what happened here. All I know is what I see with us and what I've heard from other guys who have played with Carl.

"I know him fairly well now. I honestly think he thrives on that stuff. You see him doing that with the fans in right and it's almost like he's encouraging it," said Palmeiro.

The Fenway fans were left shaking their collective heads at the end, not at Everett or A-Rod but rather at two of their own. Thanks to a solo homer by Ivan Rodriguez off closer Ugueth Urbina in the ninth and a Todd Hollandsworth blast off Willie Banks in the 10th, the Rangers were able to win just their second game in 56 tries when trailing after eight.

For Hollandsworth, it was a nice way to return from a pulled left quadriceps muscle.

"I've been on the sidelines for a couple of weeks," said the Rangers center fielder, activated just before the game. "I felt the quad a little bit but it didn't bother me at all."

And thanks to one of the best wins of the season, the boos didn't bother Everett or the Rangers in the least, either.

Mike Petraglia is a reporter for MLB.com. He can be reached via e-mail at sportsound@hotmail.com.This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or any of its clubs.