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Boston has 4 passed balls in 1st to tie MLB record

HOUSTON (AP) - Boston Red Sox catcher Ryan Lavarnway has tied a major league record with four passed balls in one inning.

Lavarnway had trouble handling pitches from knuckleballer Steven Wright in the first inning Tuesday night against the Houston Astros. Wright was making his first big league start.

It was the third time in major league history that a team had four passed balls in one inning. It last happened on Aug. 22, 1987, when Texas Rangers catcher Geno Petralli did it against the White Sox in the seventh inning. Knuckleballer Charlie Hough was pitching in that game.

The Astros scored three runs on just one hit in the first. Wright was replaced for the second inning.